Alabama Minister Charged in Sex Abuse Case

By Timesdaily
The Montgomery Advertiser
January 8, 2014

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20140108/NEWS/140108016/Alabama-minister-charged-sex-abuse-case-?gcheck=1

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — A former Methodist church worker faces sex abuse charges in northwest Alabama, but questions about his conduct go back decades.

The TimesDaily reported that Oliver Brazelle, 79, of Sheffield was charged with sexual abuse and sodomy.

Brazelle is a former music and youth minister at First United Methodist Church of Sheffield, where he worked until 2012.

The paper reported that Brazelle was arrested Monday, but an investigation over allegations dating from the 1970s resulted in Brazelle being restricted from working with youth choirs by the church's bishop a decade ago.

The criminal charges involve allegations that Brazelle sexually abused a teenage boy who was a member of his church youth group in the mid-1990s.

Court records did not show whether Brazelle had a defense attorney. He was freed on $45,000 bond.

Sheffield police began investigating in July 2012 after church members contacted police about claims of child sexual abuse. Police said the investigation was put on hold a month later because the reported victims were unwilling to come forward.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigation began a probe in early December after authorities were 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."

Brazelle was terminated as music minister in July by Billy Don Anderson, chairman of the church's board of administrators, and Zeke Haselden, the senior pastor.

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.

The police chief said investigators interviewed several people during the probe.

"I'm glad someone finally stepped up," Ray said. "Maybe this will bring others forward."

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