By James King
Phoenix New Times
September 15, 2009
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2009/09/chandler_police_arrest_youth_m.php
It's a sad day when a minister getting arrested for alleged sexual misconduct with a minor is no longer shocking.
Chandler Police arrested 25-year-old Joshua O'Bannion after a 14-year-old girl told police that the minister had had sex with her on three separate occasions.
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| Police say that 25-year-old Josh O'Bannion had sex with a 14-year-old member of the youth congregation he served for six months. |
O'Bannion served as the youth minister at the Christ Life Church on the corner of Warner Road and Stanley Place in Tempe.
In a statement from the Christ Life Church, officials insists that O'Bannion was only an intern, and had only been there for six months.
As if being a mere intern is some sort of excuse.
Intern, minister, priest or pope, we're pretty sure nobody distinguishes between titles when someones allegedly been having sex with a 14-year-old girl.
The church has organized a response team to look into the incident, and maintains that there is nothing more important than the safety of the children in its congregation.
O'Bannion has been charged with three counts of sexual abuse and eight counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
Chandler police urge anyone with any information in the case to call their office at 480-782-4130.
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