Ex-alabama Pastor Charged with Sexual Abuse, Sodomy of Children
By Nina Golgowsk
A former Alabama pastor has been charged with sexual abuse and sodomy after two adults came forward accusing him of molesting them as children. Ex-Birmingham-area pastor, Rev. Jay Strickland, has since bonded out of jail following last month's charges of two counts of sexual abuse and one count of first-degree sodomy. An investigation into the alleged abuse was launched in April after a man came forward accusing Strickland of abusing him as a child. Shortly after, Jefferson County sheriff's Sgt. Jack Self told AL.com that they tracked down a woman who echoed similar child abuse allegations from years ago. Strickland's defense attorney, Richard Jaffe, waved the charges off as "unproven." "Jay is deeply distressed and shocked about these unproven allegations," he told AJ.com. He added that Strickland "has an exemplary background and character and those who know him are extremely upset and equally shocked by these allegations." Sharon Heights Baptist Church, where Strickland had served as the Jefferson County church's administrative pastor, has since cut all ties with him. "Upon knowledge of the allegations against Mr. Jay Strickland, the necessary legal authorities were notified, and Mr. Strickland was placed upon an indefinite leave of absence from the church," the church's senior pastor Rev. Terry Trivette said in a statement. "Upon knowledge of Mr. Strickland's arrest, he was formally relieved of his duties and is no longer employed by Sharon Heights Baptist Church." Strickland is out on $70,000 bond. He faces a preliminary court hearing on July 17. With News Wire Services Contact: ngolgowski@nydailynews.com
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