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	Pierce Given More Time: August Plea Date Set on Sexual Indecency Charges Courier June 16, 2009 http://www.bentoncourier.com/content/view/175925/1/ David Pierce, the former First Baptist Church of Benton minister of music who faces 54 counts of sexual indecency with a child, did not enter a plea Monday during an appearance in Saline County Circuit Court. His attorney, Mark Hampton of Little Rock, formerly of Benton, said he needs more time to review the extensive evidence in the case. Circuit Judge Grisham set Aug. 17 as the date for Pierce's next court appearance. Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady said he agreed to allow Hampton more time to study the case, adding that there is "a tremendous amount of evidence." "We turned over a lot of material to the him," Casady said. "There are numerous interviews with witnesses and victims. It's a lot of material and the attorney feels like he needs more time to study all of that." Pierce is continuing to remain free on a $25,000 bond set in late April by Benton Municipal Judge Mike Robinson. After the proceeding, Hampton spoke to reporters outside the courtroom. He said: "This is a very dark and difficult time and I am very concerned over Mr. Pierce's future ... I'll be working very hard with Mr. Casady to get the right resolution for Mr. Pierce and others ..." Hampton acknowledged that Pierce has not entered a plea, but would not answer additional questions. Before Hampton addressed the media, Pierce had been escorted by two bailiffs to Hampton's vehicle. Immediately after Hampton turned to join Pierce, a First Baptist Church member who had been standing near television reporters began to speak. Greg White, a First Baptist Church member but not a designated spokesman for the church, offered his comments to reporters after Hampton's statements. "I believe it's important if a Christian brother asks for forgiveness, we as Christians should accept that," White said. White said he was not speaking as a representative of the church nor as a representative of the city. He is a member of the Benton City Council, representing Ward 1. Since the case began, Dr. Rick Grant, senior pastor of First Baptist, and other leaders of the church have stated they are cooperating with investigators. Sheriff Bruce Penningon has commended the church leaders for their cooperation in the case. Pierce, 56, was the minister of music for 29 years before his termination in late April. He has been arrested twice since the case began. Initially, he was charged with one count of the sexual indecency charge, then 53 additional counts were filed. No new charges have been filed since Pierce's second arrest. Four alleged victims are involved in the 54 charges. Investigators have said there are more accusers who are cooperating with authorities to corroborate the information provided by the specified victims. All of Pierce's charges relate to incidents that have occurred in the past three years and all of those alleging the abuse are still teenagers, Pennington said at the time of Pierce's second arrest. All of the alleged victims are male and are or were part of the church's youth choir program, Pure Energy, which Pierce directed. The kind of activity alleged to have occurred is believed to date back as far as 15 years, Pennington noted. The incidents on which the allegations are based "occurred in and around rural areas of Saline County and also occurred in the church ... ," Pennington said. Court documents say the incidents occurred in Pierce's office at the church, in the church's bell tower, in a cabin in rural Saline County and in Pierce's home. None of the incidents is alleged to have occurred on choir tours. At the time Pierce resigned, he apologized to the leaders of the church and the church body for his behavior. Part of the letter stated: "I feel that it is important for you to know that while I fully acknowledge the sinfulness and immorality of my past behavior, I did not engage in actual sexual contact (specifically oral sex, intercourse or masturbating another individual) with any person, nor do I believe that in recent conversation with legal counsel that I have violated criminal or civil law." In an e-mail he sent to Grant, Pierce asked to retrieve personal documents and personal files saved on his computer at the church. The computer and all of his files were seized by authorities as part of the investigation. According to court documents, Pierce's accusers said he would select individuals — always male — to participate in what he called "charting." The accusers said he spoke with them about sexual activities, such as masturbation. The documents said Pierce claimed to have "a strong bond with all past presidents" of the youth choir and would do "charting with them." The court material says the charting involved measuring the boys around the chest arms, stomach and genitals and then documenting the measurements on what appeared to be a spread sheet. He also reportedly showed past presidents' measurements and would have the youths manipulate their genitals and measure them at different times during the same incident. Pierce's accusers said he would talk to them about masturbation and the "best ways to stimulate men and women." All of the victims reportedly were selected around the age of 15, according to investigators. Pierce has been allowed to remain free under his original bond arrangement because he has not been considered a flight risk, the sheriff said. At the start of the investigation, Pierce was required to surrender his passport. A court order allowing Pierce to be free on bond states that he may have no contact with church leadership, including but not limited to the pastor, the chairman of deacons, the church Personnel Committee or any church employee except his son. He also is barred from having any contact with "any child under the age of 18 to whom he is not related" and prohibited from "using third parties to circumvent these conditions." Specifically, the order states that Pierce may not use Facebook, MySpace "or any other form of passive Internet communication."
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