Judge to hear case against former children's pastor

WAFF
February 18, 2014

http://www.waff.com/story/24750493/accused-childrens-pastor-to-appear-in-court

COLBERT COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -

On Tuesday, a judge will hear more on the case against a former Muscle Shoals children's pastor accused of sexually abusing children at his church.

The hearing is a preliminary one, in which the prosecutor will likely try to prove probable cause to a judge that the crime was committed and that Jeff Eddie committed it.

The whole case won't be laid out, but at the end of the hearing, if a judge finds probable cause, they will send the case to a grand jury.

Jeff Eddie has been in jail since he was arrested on Feb. 4. He's been charged with multiple counts of sodomy, sexual abuse of a child and having child pornography.

Eddie was the children's pastor at Highland Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, and that is where investigators said he found his victims.

According to court documents, Eddie confessed to performing multiple sex acts on children from his church multiple times.

Billy Underwood, Eddie's attorney, is still handling the case, but he did have concerns about Eddie's ability to pay for his services and filed a motion to have a court-appointed attorney come onto the case.

WAFF 48's Marie Waxel will be in the Colbert County courtroom Tuesday morning to bring you the latest updates.

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