Jeffco Pastor Charged in Rape of 13-year-old Arrested Again for Sex Abuse of Another Teen

By Carol Robinson
AL.com
May 7, 2014

http://blog.al.com/wire/2014/05/jeffco_pastor_charged_in_rape.html

Tyrone Banks Sr.

PLEASANT GROVE, Alabama - A 58-year-old man arrested on charges he raped a 13-year-old girl inside a Jefferson County church is back in jail after a second victim came forward.

Pleasant Grove police on Wednesday morning re-arrested Tyrone Banks Sr. at his lawyer’s office in Bessemer, said Sgt. Danny Reid. Banks is now charged in Pleasant Grove with first-degree sexual abuse, which is sexual contact by forcible compulsion.

Reid said Banks is the associate pastor at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Jefferson County sheriff’s officials on Monday announced charges of rape by forcible compulsion and first-degree sodomy against Banks.

The victim in the latest case contacted Pleasant Grove police this week after news of Banks’ arrest was made public. Reid said the victim is 19 years old, but was 16 when the sexual assault took place. That assault didn't happen in a church. “She is very distraught,’’ that it happened again, Reid said.

Reid said Pleasant Grove police have been searching for Banks since earlier this week. He was taken into custody about noon.

Late Wednesday, Reid said yet another young woman went to police after reading this story on AL.com. An investigation into her claims is now being launched.

Efforts to reach the church's pastor, who is Banks' brother-in-law, were unsuccessful.

In the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office case, authorities on April 14 were contacted by an area police department concerning a report of a sexual assault. The mother of the victim had gone to them to report the attack, but they determined the assault happened outside of their jurisdiction.

Sheriff's deputies then launched their investigation. They learned that on April 12, the girl spent the evening with Banks, who is a family friend. Banks drove her to the church.

He had a key to the church and took her inside the kitchen, where he sexually assaulted her, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian. He then drove her back home.

The girl immediately told her mom what happened. On April 30, authorities obtained the warrants against Banks. Banks was released from the county jail Sunday after posting $120,000 bond.

e is now being held without bond, again at the Jefferson County Jail. Reid said lawmen believe there are other victims out there. If there are, he said, they are being asked to immediately contact their local law enforcement agency.

If victims don't know who to call, Reid asked they call him at 205-744-1735.

crobinson@al.com