UPDATE: Family Speaks After Fmr. Buena Vista Pastor Sentenced To 35 Years On Child Sex Abuse Charges

WSET
January 6, 2015

http://www.wset.com/story/25443589/update-family-speaks-after-fmr-buena-vista-pastor-sentenced-to-35-years-on-child-sex-abuse-charges

Larry Clark

Lexington, VA - At 62-years-old, Larry Clark may spend the rest of his life in a jail cell.

But the former Buena Vista pastor says he doesn't deserve the time, maintaining his innocence. At his sentencing Monday, he said,  "My life has been devastated by the lies said about me."

Sandy McElroy, Clark's niece, tells ABC 13 that Clark would never harm a child.

"He's innocent and I just hope whoever or whatever has done this to [the victim] that maybe one day they'll pay and I'll just say he wishes him no ill will. I just think in this small town it's a crime not to let the case be moved out of this town," said McElroy.

In October, a jury found the former Buena Vista pastor guilty of two counts of carnal knowledge and three counts of indecent liberties. During his testimony on a closed-circuit TV, the victim said Clark raped him.

Clark denied the allegations.

"I forgive [the victim] for lying against me," said Clark.

"He doesn't get it. I mean it's frightening he doesn't get it," said Christopher Billias, Rockbridge County chief deputy attorney. 

Billias says the commonwealth will proceed with another trial against Clark. A second victim is expected to testify against him.

His family says they will be at every trial. Their support is unwavered.

"He's my brother. I believe in him 100 percent. He's innocent and the justice was not done," said Dorcas Bennett, his sister.

"I think the indication is clear if you have a position of responsibility and position of authority and a position that demands trust then you can't abuse that. Larry Clark abused it," said Billias.

Clark's attorney did not comment but says there will be an appeal. The trial involving a second victim is scheduled for March 3rd.

-------

UPDATE 01/05: Larry Clark has been sentenced to 35 years.

A Rockbridge county judge agreed with the jury and gave the former Buena Vista pastor the maximum 35-year sentence. Clark spoke in court on Monday, reading a statement before his sentencing. Throughout he proclaimed his innocence and said he never invited the victim into his home alone and never made sexual advances towards him.

Clark said, "I am not guilty and I plead to the court to have mercy on me."

After the proceedings, Rockbridge County chief deputy attorney Christopher Billias said to ABC 13 News that Clark "doesn't get it".

"I mean, it's frightening he doesn't get it," said Billias. "And the concern of course you have is there's a possibility of someone like him doing it again when they don't understand the nature of their acts."

-------
UPDATE: A former Buena Vista pastor is set to appear in court Monday afternoon for his sentencing.

In October a Rockbridge County jury found Larry Clark guilty of five of the six charges against him, including two counts of carnal knowledge and three counts of indecent liberties with a child.
   
The jury recommended the maximum punishment of 35 years and a fine of nearly $108,000.
   
A judge will make the final call.

-------
UPDATE: A former Buena Vista pastor has been found guilty on child sex abuse charges.  The jury found him guilty on five of six charges, including two counts of carnal knowledge and three counts of indecent liberties with a child.

The jury had the Larry Clark case for less than an hour.

This conviction means that two other cases against the former pastor will not go forward.  Those cases were backups in the event Clark was found not guilty.

The jury recommended the maximum sentence for Clark, which is 35 years and a nearly $108,000 fine.  He will be sentenced on January 5.

-------
Update: 5:50 p.m.

Lexington, VA - Former Buena Vista pastor Larry Clark was in court today - facing charges he sexually abused teens.

One of the teens, so traumatized by the alleged events, appeared via close circuit TV to testify today... not comfortable being in the same room as his alleged attacker. 

While the morning session was used to select a jury the afternoon saw testimony revolve around the one alleged victim's story the Commonwealth believes they can prove. 

That spares the other two alleged victims from testifying. It also knocked down Clark's charge count from 27 to six including 3 counts of carnal knowledge and 3 counts of indecent liberties while in a position of authority.

In all Clark faces 45 years in prison for the offenses that allegedly began in 2011... stopping in 2013.

In that testimony, the boy - who was between 13 or 14 at the time it began says it all started with special treatment and dinners.  The boy said that eventually led to fondling while Clark drove him home from church... a drive that would sometimes be interrupted with a stop at Clark's home where it is alleged Clark raped the boy.

The defense pointed out several inconsistencies with the teen's testimony and attacked his inability to remember small details about the events surrounding the alleged crimes.

Lawyers expect this case to go deep into tomorrow afternoon before wrapping up.

Update: 11:45 a.m.:

A jury has been seated in the trial of Larry Clark. Attorneys selected seven men and six women to be on the jury.

Also, all but six charges against Clark have been dropped.

He still faces three counts of indecent liberties and three counts of carnal knowledge.

--------------------------------------

Rockbridge, VA - A former Buena Vista pastor, charged with dozens of counts of indecent acts with children is scheduled to go on trial today.

A grand jury indicted 62-year-old Larry Clark back in May.

He faces charges including cruelty to a child and carnal knowledge.

At a hearing in February, two alleged victims between 14 and 15 years old testified they were abused at Clark's home or an adjacent church property in Buena Vista.

His trial is set to last two days.

----------

Rockbridge Co., VA - A grand jury has indicted the former Buena Vista pastor who is charged with indecent acts with a child.

Larry Clark, 62, faces charges including cruelty to a child and carnal knowledge.

He was the pastor of the Pentecostal Outreach Church.

At a hearing in February, two alleged victims between 14 and 15 years old testified they were abused at Clark's home or an adjacent church property in Buena Vista.

Clark will go on trial on July 28th.