Clark Found Guilty

By Roberta Anderson
The News-Gazette
October 8, 2014

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1653:clark-found-guilty&catid=77:breaking-news&Itemid=395

It took a jury of six men and six women less than 30 minutes to find Larry Clark, former pastor of the Pentecostal Outreach Church in Buena Vista, guilty of three charges of taking indecent liberties with and two charges of carnal knowledge of a minor in Rockbridge County Circuit Court.

The verdict came following two days of testimony from witnesses including the victim of the sexual assault as well as supporters of Clark from his former church.

The jurors also quickly decided on sentencing recommendations. They recommended that Clark receive five years in prison and a $2,500 fine for each count of taking indecent liberties with a child and 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine on each count of carnal knowledge. Clark's attorneys requested a presentencing report, and Judge Michael Irvine set Jan. 5, 2015 as the sentencing date.

During his summation for the jury, assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Christopher Billias questioned why the victim would make up the accusations against the pastor of the church that had previously been a focal point in the child's life. "Why would he put himself through this?" Billias asked.

Calling the victim "a good kid," Billias continued that the defense's job was to make the victim "look bad" by pointing out inconsistencies in his testimony and in earlier statements made to law enforcement officials investigating the case. "He responded exactly as a victim would respond," Billias told the jurors.

When asked by Irvine if he had any response to the jury's verdict, Clark responded by insisting on his innocence.

Tuesday

A jury of six women and seven men, including one who will be an alternate, was seated Tuesday morning in Rockbridge County Circuit Court to hear the case involving allegations of sexual abuse against minors by Larry Clark, former pastor of the Pentecostal Outreach Church in Buena Vista.

It took approximately two hours to select the jury from a pool of 60 who were called to serve. Clark is charged with three counts each of sexual abuse and carnal knowledge, all occurring between Sept. 21, 2011, and Aug. 25, 2013, involving one victim. Clark faces additional charges of sexual abuse that will be heard at a later date.

During the lengthy jury selection process, 13 candidates asked to be excused, saying they did not feel they could render an impartial judgment.

Brief opening statements by the prosecution and defense were delivered before the noon lunch break. Chief deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Christopher Billias spoke to the jury about character traits associated with certain professions. Leaders of the church, Billias said, are “people that we can look up to,” he said. However, people sometimes have a “dark side” that emerges when least expected.

Billias also questioned why the victim in this trial would have made up the allegations in light of the embarrassment that it would cause for him among his peers at school.

Defense attorney Kelly Cutler countered that people are frequently exactly who they say they are. The victim, she said, has had a troubled childhood, has been inconsistent in his statements to authorities and was coached to give answers that were provided by investigators. She further said that testimony will show that Clark was not alone with the victim to provide the opportunity for Clark to commit the alleged offenses.