By John Cuoco
KXXV
September 11, 2010
http://www.kxxv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13135754
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HILLSBORO- A Central Texas preacher turned himself in to authorities amidst allegations of sexual abuse by children at his church last Monday.
67-year-old Nathaniel Calhoun of Hillsboro was originally accused in the early 1980s by three young girls, now those girls have come forward.
Calhoun is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of aggravated sexual assault.
Calhoun allegedly started sexually assaulting a 12,13, and 16 girl in the 1980's, out of his church on highway 77 in Hill county, in the Tres Vidas community.
The abuse lasted over a 12 to 16 year period, but the girls never came forward then.
"They were talked out of the charges by members of the congregation," Hill County Sheriff Jeffery Lyon said.
According to the indictments, Calhoun exploited the girl's dependency on him as their spiritual advisor.
Almost 30 years later, the three victims, now in their forties, came forward and told authorities after a confrontation with Calhoun.
"They had gone out and confronted him for some type of apology, or reason why, but he wouldn't acknowledge their return the church," Lyon added.
Sheriff Lyon also told News Channel 25 some the family of the victims still attend that church. The girls have since moved away from the church.
Calhoun is out on $62,500 bond and is awaiting trial.
When News Channel 25 drove to his church, the House of Prayer, in Hillsboro Friday afternoon he wouldn't talk to us on camera.
Instead he said he'd have to talk with his lawyer first about the allegations he's now been indicted on.
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