Former Youth Pastor Guilty in Local Child Sex Abuse Case

Fox 12
July 30, 2012

http://www.kptv.com/story/19149751/former-youth-pastor-guilty-in-local-child-sex-abuse-case

A former youth pastor convicted in a federal courtroom of making child pornography and molesting children is now guilty in a local court as well.

A Clark County judge found Michael Norris of Vancouver guilty on all charges Monday morning, which includes multiple counts of child rape and molestation.

Norris was arrested in 2006 after federal investigators linked him to child porn distribution websites.

A search of his home turned up movies and images of young children in explicit scenes that Norris had made, according to investigators.

Norris was trusted to be around the children because of his role as a youth pastor for a Portland church.

He pleaded guilty to federal charges in August 2011 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and detectives said he admitted to abusing at least four children and taking pornographic pictures of two of them.

After years of this case proceeding through the courts, attorneys for both sides said Monday finally brings some closure.

"The victims have gone on, to the extent they can with the lives, but I will say, they will be overjoyed that this chapter is behind them," said Alan Harvey Clark County Senior Deputy Prosecutor.

Norris remained relatively unemotional as the judge found him guilty, as the outcome had been expected.

"Michael admitted what he did," said defense attorney Clayton Spencer. "He says he felt terrible about it. He just wanted to keep the kids from getting back in court, and he's ashamed of it."

His sentencing for the local case will be Sept. 4.