Federal Jury Finds Shreveport Pastor Guilty of Sex with Minors

By Michael Doughty
Shreveport Times
February 28, 2014

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20140228/NEWS03/302280060/Federal-jury-finds-Shreveport-pastor-guilty-sex-minors?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

Lewis , Andrea Charles 6337 Snowden Dr Shreveport

Andrea Lewis the former pastor from Shreveport charged with sexual contact with minors was found guilty Friday by a federal jury on three counts of transporting minors across state lines to have sex.

The five-day trial in the courtroom of United States District Judge Elizabeth Foote, culminated in the conviction of the 54-year-old Lewis, who was found guilty of abusing his position as a pastor and choir recruiter from 1994 to 2000.

The choir consisted predominately of girls under the age of 18.

It took the jury three hours of deliberation to deliver the verdict, following a week of testimony and exhibits which indicated Lewis transported at least three minors from Texas for sex.

Testimony indicated Lewis threatened the girls not to tell anyone, and used choir trips and other church related travel to cover up the sexual abuse.

“This verdict should send the message that if you harm children there are consequences,” United States Attorney Stephanie Finley stated. “He can no longer exploit and hurt young girls.”

Lewis now faces up to 10 years in prison with five years of supervised release, in addition to a fine of 250,000 for each count of transportation of minors with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Lewis will return to court on June 20 for sentencing.