Molestation Case Rejected against Compton Pastor from Rialto

By Melissa Pinion-Whitt
San Bernardino County
August 17, 2012

http://www.sbsun.com/breakingnews/ci_21336988/molestation-case-rejected-against-compton-pastor

Citing a lack of evidence, San Bernardino County prosecutors on Friday declined to file charges against a Compton pastor police suspected of molesting two Rialto girls.

Anthony Lavon Smith, 47, of Rialto, had been behind bars since Wednesday on suspicion of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child and other sex charges.

The District Attorney's Office reviewed the case Friday.

"It's been turned down," said district attorney's spokesman Chris Lee. "It's pending further investigation."

Lee said the case remains open.

Rialto police say they weren't surprised by the D.A.'s Office decision because they are waiting for forensic evidence to be processed.

Evidence they hope to present with the case includes cell phone records, Smith's computer files as well as text messages and social media interactions, police said.

"It's probably going to take several weeks," said Rialto police Capt. Randy DeAnda.

Rialto police arrested Smith on Wednesday and booked him into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

Investigators say Smith had two victims, one of whom was 11 years old when the alleged crimes began. She is now 17. The other alleged victim, age 17 when the alleged molestations stopped, is now 29, police said.

There may be two additional victims from the church, police said, but further details were not available.

Smith has been a pastor at Jericho Baptist Assembly in Compton since April 2001, following in the footsteps of his father, Willie L. Smith, who also preached at the church, according to the church's website.

Both alleged victims lived in Rialto and were members of Smith's church at the time of the incidents.