Bond Set for Buena Vista Pastor Accused of Molesting Teens

By Aaron Martin
Tim Ciesco
November 12, 2013

http://www.wsls.com/story/23941828/buena-vista-pastor-in-court-this-morning

A Rockbridge County judge set bond for Pastor Larry Clark at $7,500 Tuesday morning.

Clark, who is the pastor at Pentecostal Outreach Church in Buena Vista, has been accused of molesting two teenage boys on separate occasions back in 2011. He was arrested last week on two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and one count of cruelly treating a child.

The judge said given the nature of the charges, she felt the bond amount was "reasonable."

She also attached several conditions to his bond that he must meet:

-No contact with either of the alleged victims in this case

-No unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18

-He must stay with his mother in Buena Vista while he is out on bond

Clark appeared in a blue jumpsuit and handcuffs during the hearing. He had a calm demeanor and answered all questions that both his attorney and prosecutors asked him.

During the hearing, the subject of his prior criminal history was brought up. Clark was convicted on one charge of embezzlement back in 1982 and one charge of larceny in 1983 -- both in the Tidewater area -- but has had no other run-ins with the law since then.

A small group from Clark's congregation was at the courthouse for the hearing. Clark told the judge his "church family" was working to help him post bond. They declined to comment after the hearing.

Clark will be back in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in early December for a preliminary hearing.