York Pastor Wanted for Sex Crimes against Child

By Glenn Counts
WCNC
March 6, 2014

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/York-pastor-wanted-for-sex-crimes-against-child-248881981.html

[with video]

A York, S.C. pastor is in trouble with the law, accused of sexually abusing a young teenage member of his church.

Cory Dean Moses, 38, is wanted for first-degree assault and battery. Investigators say the victim was just 14 years old when the abuse started, and continued until she was 19.

"When she was about 16, she challenged him on his touching her and that's when he told her look if you go tell anybody I’m going to tell them you came and touched me, and you initiated the contact. So he had a sphere of influence over her," said York Police Department Lt Richard Caddell.

This was not Moses’ first brush with the law. In 2003 he was convicted of indecent liberties in Gastonia for sexually abusing two young teenage girls.

He was a pastor at Greater Faith Chapel, and the victims were members of his flock.

Moses served 20 months in prison. At some point he moved to York, and got a job in the ministry, despite the fact that he is on the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry.

"He did a pretty good job flying under the radar for the amount of time that he did," said Caddell.

Moses served as pastor at New Zion on Hwy 321. That’s where police say he met the 14 year old and began to abuse her.

In 2011, he moved to Redeemed Christian Ministries on Ross Cannon Street, and police say the abuse continued.

But sometime last month there was a split, Moses left, and police say the victim felt comfortable talking.

Angelia Ross is not a member of his church, but she knows him. "That's sad come on, it's at the schools now at the church. Jesus Christ, I'm so glad we don't have any little ones that go over there," she said.

Police aren't sure if the churches did a background check, officers say Moses failed to register in South Carolina and he could face charges for that.

Investigators are worried there might be other victims out there and urge them to come forward.

"It would be difficult for me to believe it was only one young person. I hope it is, but now it's getting out there, we’re doing some charges. I would expect more victims," said Caddell.