Pastor Charged with Sexual Battery

By Theron Fly
The Democrat
December 5, 2012

www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1867&dept_id=124334&newsid=20473593&PAG=461&rfi=9

A 71-year-old pastor remains in Tate County Jail on charges of sexual battery of a child following a hearing at Tate County Justice Court Tuesday.

The suspect was identified by Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance as Larry Singleton, pastor of the Bay Springs Baptist Church in Lafayette County.

An arrest warrant for Singleton was enforced Monday night, days after an 18-year-old man came to deputies saying that he'd been forced into having sex with the man, Lance said.

According to Lance, the sexual abuse is alleged to have begun when the victim was 11 years old and continued for years.

Singleton was also a part-time volunteer at Gateway Christian School's campus in Horn Lake. Lance said that he did have contact with students there, having served as a tutor, but there is no indication that there was any misconduct at either the school or the church.

It's possible that the case could go before the Tate County Grand Jury as early as the upcoming Mid-January term, but it could be at the following term in March, according to Lance.

Lance said that while the investigation is still in its early stages, he does anticipate additional charges to be filed.

For now, Singleton remains in jail under a $1 million bond.