Ridgeview pastor charged with sexually abusing young boy

Coal Valley News
October 29, 2014

http://www.coalvalleynews.com/news/home_top/150345930/Ridgeview-pastor-charged-with-sexually-abusing-young-boy

James Robert Smith

CHARLESTON — A Ridgeview pastor has been arrest and accused of 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.

A warrant was issued by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office for Smith on Monday. He was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a parent or guardian.

The alleged abuse dates back to 2009, when the boy was 10-years-old, according to the criminal complaint.

WCHS-TV in Charleston broke the story, reporting the boy, now 15-years-old, came reported the alleged crimes in May.

Smith allegedly told the boy that if he ever told anyone, “bad things” would happen, the station reported.

Smith is now 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.

“I just think that it’s somebody that’s out to sabotage him and I won’t believe no different,” Janice Allen told the television station, a woman who lives across from

Allen lives across from the church and also attends it regularly.

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

Many of the details of the allegeded abuse 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.

WCHS-TV reported that 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, *****,” the station reported.

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 told WCHS-TV.

The station said that Smith declined to comment from the South Central Regional Jail.

Kanawha County Magistrate Ward Harshbarger set his bond at $150,000 cash or full surety, which has been posted.