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	Girl, 12, Says Ministers Raped Her Volunteers at Auburndale Church Face Several Charges in Case By Kara Phelps News Chief September 5, 2009 http://www.newschief.com/article/20090905/NEWS/909055029/1021?Title=Girl-12-says-ministers-raped-her AUBURNDALE - Polk County Sheriff's Office Special Victims detectives arrested two volunteer ministers at an Auburndale church after a 12-year-old girl reported the men, whom she met at the church, had sexually abused her this summer. Clevon Ghent, 35, of 1161 Waterview Point, Lakeland, was charged Thursday with five counts of custodial sexual battery. Gernard Jones, 18, of 1455 Kathleen Road in Lakeland, was charged with three counts of lewd battery. Ghent managed Trinity Enterprises, a residential and commercial cleaning business owned and operated by Born Again Church of God in Christ in Auburndale. Ghent and Jones are both volunteer ministers at the church, and the girl is reportedly a member of the congregation, according to the Sheriff's Office. Pastor Theadore Hall Jr. of Born Again Church could not be reached on Friday. The Sheriff's Office reported that Ghent and Jones both met the 12-year-old girl at the church. Detectives said the abuse began in May or June, when Jones allegedly committed a sex act with the girl in a car in the driveway of her home. In mid-July, Ghent picked the girl up from her home and took her to his house to babysit his four children, ages 6, 7, 8 and 12. During the ride to his house, authorities said Ghent told the girl he knew she had been sexually active with his nephew, Jones. Jones was at Ghent's house when they arrived, and Ghent told Jones to take his children on a walk. When the girl asked to go with the other children, Ghent told her she was "grounded" and had to stay in the house with him, the Sheriff's Office reported. After Jones left with Ghent's children, authorities said Ghent then performed sex acts on the victim. According to authorities, Ghent committed sex acts with the girl on two separate occasions in July, once in his son's bedroom. Most recently, Ghent and Jones allegedly sexually abused the girl on Aug. 26. Authorities said Jones drove the girl with Ghent to an isolated spot near Reynolds Road and Skyview Drive in Lakeland, after the men offered to drive her home from Bible study at the church. Instead, the Sheriff's Office reported that they allegedly sexually abused the girl inside Jones's silver Lincoln Navigator. Two days later, on Aug. 28, the girl told two teachers at her school that she had sex with Ghent and Jones. The teachers told the girl's father, who notified the Sheriff's Office. Detectives opened an investigation, and Jones and Ghent were interviewed and arrested on Thursday, the Sheriff's Office said. In a statement, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "There are no words to describe the horror" of the alleged abuse. "This so-called minister, and his nephew, Gernard Jones, are now behind bars where they belong - and where they can't hurt any more innocent children." The two men were booked into the Polk County Jail on Thursday and are being held without bond. Contact: kara.phelps@newschief.com
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