Alabama Pastor Accused of Raping His Family Member inside His Church for Three Years from the Time She Was 14 Years Old

By Snejana Farberov
Daily Mail
April 11, 2014

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2602162/Alabama-Pastor-accused-repeatedly-raping-underage-family-member-inside-church.html

Vile crime: Alabama pastor William Best Jr., 47, has been charged with rape, incest and sodomy involving his teenage relative

An Alabama pastor has been arrested on sex abuse charges for allegedly raping and sodomizing a young family member.

Sheriff Harris Huffman said William Best Jr. was charged with rape, sodomy and incest and was being held in the county jail, with his bond raised to $2million Thursday by a Selma judge.

Best, 47, server as a pastor of Living Waters Church in Valley Grande.

District Attorney Michael Jackson says the minister is accused of beginning a sexual relationship with a minor who was 14 and continuing it for three years.

He said the cleric is accused of abusing the minor at his home and at the church.

Mr Best is due back in court for a preliminary hearing May 20.

At around 1.30pm Thursday, a downcast Mr Best, dressed in a tan prison garb with his hands and feet shackled, shuffled into a Selma courtroom for his arraignment.

Best's court-appointed attorney, Vaughn Russell, told the local station WSFA that his client was 'devastated' and 'worried about his family.'

According to Sheriff Huffman, the 47-year-old clergyman began an incestuous affair with the teenage relative three years ago, and the duo had dozens of sexual encounters in Best's home and his office at the church.

Desecrated: Sheriff's officials say during their three-year affair, Best and his relative had dozens of sexual encounters in his house and at Living Waters Worship Center

Best is being held on $2million bail. He could face more charges if investigators find child pornography on his office computer

Best is being held on $2million bail. He could face more charges if investigators find child pornography on his office computer

Earlier this week, the victim came clean about the illicit relationship to her mother, telling her that her most recent sexual tryst with Best took place last Saturday, prompting the parent to contact sheriff's deputies.

Best was taken into custody Tuesday. That same day, he was fired from Living Waters Worship Center, where he had worked for three years, by a unanimous vote taken by the board of directors.

Investigators executed a search warrant in Best's office at the church, seizing his computer and other evidence.

Huffman told the Selma Times-Journal he is convinced the computer contains pornographic images of the victim. If it is proven to be the case, the disgraced 47-year-old cleric could face additional charges.

Terminated: Church officials fired Best on the day of his arrest