$1 million bond for former youth pastor accused of sex crimes

By David Whisenant
WBTV
April 19, 2015

http://www.wbtv.com/story/28836510/1-million-bond-for-former-youth-pastor-accused-of-sex-crimes

SALISBURY, NC (WBTV) - A former Rowan County youth pastor is being held under a bond of $1 million, accused of sex crimes involving a child that attended his church. Sources tell WBTV that Hollifield was the youth pastor and outreach pastor at Piedmont Baptist Church in Kannapolis, NC.

Benjamin Ross Hollifield, 25, was arrested on Friday night and booked into the Rowan County Detention Center just after 10 p.m. on charges of taking indecent liberties with children and statutory rape/sex offense with a person aged 13, 14, or 15 by a person at least six years older.

Piedmont Baptist Church in Kannapolis released a statement Saturday on their website saying Hollifield was fired and that "The one known victim and their family are valued members of our church, and we are praying for and ministering to them during this difficult time. We would ask that you please respect their privacy."

PBC went on to say that they screen anyone who works with children and "Piedmont Baptist Church reports all matters of potential child abuse to the authorities, as was done in this case by our senior pastor."

The alleged incidents reportedly happened between February 15 and March 8.

The church ended their statement by saying, "We believe that transparency, child safety, and accountability are essential for successful ministry, and we are fully committed to ministering to our entire community in a safe and responsible manner."