BishopAccountability.org
	Pastor Resigns Amid Sex Charge By Brian Englar The News-Post September 3, 2011 http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=125624 A pastor and Walkersville resident charged with sexually abusing a girl who attended his Montgomery County church has stepped down from his position. Joe Nix Ivey, 74, resigned as senior pastor of Barnesville Baptist Church on Thursday, according to David Bennett, chairman of deacons for the church. "Pastor Ivey has resigned and the church has accepted his resignation," Bennett said in an email, which contained no further comment on the case. Ivey is charged with abusing the girl in February 2010 while she was at his Dublin Road home for an overnight visit. Charging documents in the case describe a close relationship between Ivey, his wife and the family, which included overnight stays by the girl and her siblings and Ivey taking the children out to eat and shopping for clothes and school supplies. According to the documents, the two were watching a movie when Ivey initiated sexual contact with the girl, who was then 10 years old, saying nothing before or during the alleged contact but telling her afterward not to tell anyone about it because it would "ruin" him. The girl, now 13, also told investigators that Ivey abused her in a similar manner when she was 6. The girl told her parents on Saturday and provided the details to a Frederick County Sheriff's Office detective and a Child Protective Services worker on Tuesday. During a phone call arranged by authorities to get Ivey to discuss the alleged abuse, Ivey told the girl that what happened was between "you, me and God" and that she shouldn't tell anyone about it, according to the charging documents. Ivey initially denied any abuse, but upon further questioning admitted engaging in sexual contact with the girl and gave investigators a statement, at which time a warrant was issued for his arrest, the documents state. Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith said the allegations are even more disturbing because of Ivey's role as a pastor. "It's bad enough to violate a child, but to do it from a position of trust makes it even more despicable," Smith said. Smith also said Ivey's age won't a play a role in any possible decisions regarding sentencing if Ivey is convicted. "The fact that he is 74 makes no difference to me," Smith said. "If you did the crime, you do the time, no matter your age." Ivey was released Wednesday after posting $85,000 bail. No attorney is listed for him in court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28. Church officials could not be reached for further comment Friday, and a woman who answered the phone at Ivey's home said he was not commenting on the case.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.