Church member stands by Shreveport pastor convicted of sex crimes

By Kimberly Rusley
ArkLATex Homepage
July 24, 2014

http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/story/d/story/andrea-lewis/25094/caYIP5o1GE6meJ8_JPOd_w

Church members are standing by their pastor. Reverend Andre Lewis was sentenced to 6.5 years on Tuesday, July 22, in federal court for taking girls across state lines to have sex with them.

Tonette Fox has been a member of Act on Faith Ministries since 2006.

Even though her pastor, Reverend Andrea Lewis, has been convicted and sentenced, she still stands by him.

“I would like to say he is a good man, he's a man of god, and I have a five year-old and she loves him to death,” says Fox. “I wouldn't take him away from her for the world."

Prosecutors say between 1994 and 2000, Lewis would use choir trips and other church related travel to cover up the sexual abuse.

"I feel like the sentencing wasn't lengthy enough,” says Jane Doe III. “I mean, because I've endured 10 years plus, building the rest of my life. I'll always be affected by this, and 6.5 years will never equal up to the pain that I've endured, because of this situation."

But Fox thinks the victim is lying about what really happened.

"For him to do something like that to her, and you still come around after the age of 18, I don't see it honey," says Fox.

In court, Lewis maintained his innocence, saying, "I can't apologize for something somebody accused me of."

The victim says Lewis' statement was offensive, and she cringes at the fact he could be out in 6.5 years.

Lewis will be back in Caddo District Court on July 30th for a hearing on child molestation charges.