Boone Pastor Accused of Sex Crimes against Young Boy

WCHS
October 27, 2014

http://www.wchstv.com/news/features/eyewitness-news/stories/Boone-Pastor-Accused-Of-Sex-Crimes-Against-Young-Boy-53599.shtml#.VE_Wwfl_uSp

[with video]

A Boone County pastor is arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a young boy.

James Robert Smith, 23, also known as "J.R" is the pastor at Morning Star House of Prayer in Ridgeview.

On Monday, he was charged with first degree sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a parent or guardian on a warrant out of Fayette County issued by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.

He is also under investigation by the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office for the same crimes because deputies have reason to believe the alleged sexual abuse happened not only in Fayetteville, but also Clendenin.

The allegations go back to 2009, when the alleged victim was 10-years-old.

"I just think that it's somebody that's out to sabotage him and I won't believe no different," says Janice Allen, a woman who lives across from the chuch and also attends it regularly.

"Ever seen he's been here, there's been tales told on him. He's been confronted with it. Nobody can prove anything that's even been said on him," she said.

Now 15-years-old, the victim came forward in May and said Smith told him if he ever told anyone, "bad things" would happen.

The details are too graphic for publication, but the boy claims the molestation went on for years and also happened in Florida, Indiana, and Virginia. The most recent alleged incident happened in April.

Family members went with Smith to turn himself in at the Kanawha County Courthouse and became irate when asked by Eyewitness News reporter Leslie Rubin if they wanted to comment on the case.

One family member lunged through the others in the group toward Rubin, and was restrained by others in the group. She then shouted, "if you ruin my brother's life, I will kill you, *****."

Deputies in Kanawha County say their investigation into Smith is still ongoing, while some in his congregation are still standing beside him.

"That is what happens to a man or woman who is person of God. And you don't fool with God's people because it will come back to haunt you," Allen said.

Smith declined to comment from the South Central Regional Jail. Magistrate Ward Harshbarger set his bond at $150,000 cash or full surety.