Ex-Youth Minister Linked to Sex Abuse
By Tom Smith
FLORENCE — A former music and youth minister of First United Methodist Church of Sheffield was arrested Monday, charged with second-degree sexual abuse and one-count of second-degree sodomy, officials said. Oliver Brazelle, 79, 311 Meadow Hill Road, Sheffield, was arrested Monday afternoon by agents with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, officials said. Authorities said Brazelle is accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy who was a member of his youth group at the church. The accusation is that the abuse took place in the mid-1990s. According to the accusations, the sexual abuse occurred at Brazelle’s Shoals Creek residence on Lauderdale 322, near Happy Hollow. ABI agent Brian Faulkner said Brazelle was arrested after an investigation by the ABI was concluded and the findings discussed with the Lauderdale County District Attorney’s Office. “We approved the issuance of the arrest warrants (Monday) based on the probable cause of the investigation,” Lauderdale County Assistant District Attorney Will Powell said. Sheffield police launched an investigation in July 2012 after church members contacted police in regards to accusations of child sexual abuse. Police said the investigation was put on hold a month later because the reported victims were unwilling to come forward. ABI officials said Faulkner began his investigation in early December after the department was contacted by one reported victim who is now an adult. “Officially, we never had a victim,” Sheffield Police Chief Greg Ray said about the July investigation. “We talked to several people, but no one (came) forward.” The chief said investigators interviewed several people during the probe. “I’m glad someone finally stepped up,” Ray said. “Maybe this will bring others forward.” Brazelle was terminated as music minister on July 27, 2012, by Billy Don Anderson, chairman of the church’s board of administrators, and Senior Pastor Zeke Haselden. Police said Brazelle had not held youth minister duties at church for about 10 years. “He was employed by the church and he was dismissed,” Anderson said. “Since the beginning, we moved quick to turn it over to the authorities. “I am pleased with the way the church has handled this and supported each other, when this first surfaced,” Anderson said. In an August 2012 letter written by Anderson to members of the church explaining Brazelle’s termination, he said the former youth director and music minister admitted to church officials that he had an inappropriate relationship with a younger member of the church. Another letter released by Anderson during the initial probe, stated that in 2003, the United Methodist Church’s bishop restricted Brazelle from choir directorship with young people after he was accused of inappropriate sexual contact in the 1970s. Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class C felony and is punishable by 1-10 years in prison. Second-degree sodomy is a Class B felony and carries a penalty of 2-20 years in prison. Brazelle released from the Lauderdale County Detention Center on a bond of $45,000. Contact: tom.smith@TimesDaily.com
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