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Memphis pastor indicted on child pornography charges
By George Brown
WREG
August 20, 2015
http://wreg.com/2015/08/19/memphis-pastor-indicted-on-child-pornography-charges/
[with video]
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis, TN – A former Memphis pastor has been indicted on child pornography possession charges.
Prosecutors say Demarcus Smith coerced a male under the age of 18 to take pictures of himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
This allegedly happened between August 2014 and May 2015.
Smith was a pastor at Oak Hill Missionary Baptist Church in South Memphis and member of the Baptist Ministerial Association.
A deacon at Oak Hill told WREG over the phone the church let Smith go when allegations surfaced in April.
He has been charged with one count of coercion and solicitation of a minor; one count of production of child pornography; and one count of receipt of child pornography.
• Smith faces a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment if convicted of coercion/solicitation of a minor.
• Smith faces a minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment if convicted of production of child pornography.
• Smith faces up to 20 years imprisonment if convicted of receipt of child pornography
• Smith faces up to $250,000 in fines per offense of conviction.
The case is being investigated by the Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force.
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