Former Franklin County Pastor Charged with Sexual Torture, Abuse

By Carter Watkins and Melissa Payne
WHNT
April 2, 2013

http://whnt.com/2013/04/02/former-pastor-charged-with-sexual-torture-abuse/

Freddy Hovater is charged with sexual torture and abuse. (Photo: Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

A former pastor in Franklin County is charged with sexual torture and abuse.

Freddy Hovater, 72, was arrested on October 1, 2012 and a grand jury just indicted him on the charges.

Sheriff Shannon Oliver says the abuse happened for nearly a year inside Hovater’s home in Spruce Pine. The victim was an 8-year-old girl. Her family attended Hovater’s church.

Sheriff Oliver did not say which church Hovater used to lead.

Investigators seized a computer from Hovater’s home as well as other evidence.