By Shelby Sebens
North Carolina
June 29, 2010
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100628/ARTICLES/100629690/1177?Title=Judge-denies-work-request-from-Leland-pastor-awaiting-trial-on-child-sex-crimes
A Leland pastor facing child sex charges cannot work while he's on house arrest awaiting trial, a Superior Court judge ruled Monday.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Lock denied James T. Johnson's request to work as a pipe fitter while he waits for his trial, which is scheduled for Nov. 1.
Johnson has been charged with three counts of indecent liberties with a child, two counts of first-degree sex offense with a child and one count of attempted first-degree rape of a child. The victim was in elementary school when the alleged incidents occurred over a three-year period.
The StarNews does not identify victims in sexual abuse cases.
Johnson also asked to be let off house arrest and allowed to preach at the Olive Branch Church on Mount Misery Road. Those requests were also denied.
Johnson has been on house arrest since November when his bond was lowered by a District Court judge. He was later ordered by a Superior Court judge not to have any contact with anyone under 18, and he is not allowed to preach at his church or to work.
Johnson's attorneys argued that not being allowed to work has put a financial burden on Johnson and his family. His wife sat in the front row of the courtroom during the bond hearing. Johnson said after the hearing he had no comment.
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| James T. Johnson |
But Assistant District Attorney Meredith Everhart questioned whether Johnson was under a financial strain and noted the two attorneys the pastor has retained.
"I don't see that he's lacking too much funds at this point," she said. James Payne and Robert Epstein are representing Johnson.
Everhart said that Johnson is a danger to society and that allowing him to work in the community could lead to the victim being adversely influenced.
Payne, who said the pastor has been a "model" house inmate and is not a flight risk, argued Johnson wouldn't have contact with minors during work.
But Everhart said Johnson has already violated his bond terms by sending a friend request to his alleged victim on the online social networking site Facebook.
Payne said that was done inadvertently and Johnson no longer has access to a computer.
Shelby Sebens: 343-2076
Contact: Shelby.Sebens@StarNewsOnline.com
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