Bedford Music Minister Accused of Raping Alabama Teen Resigns

By Robbie Owens
CBS DFW
September 10, 2015

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/09/10/bedford-music-minister-accused-of-raping-alabama-teen-resigns/

[with video]

A Bedford church minister awaiting trial on 29 counts of rape and sodomy involving a teenage girl in Alabama has resigned. That’s according to a man who only identified himself as “leader” with Bedford’s First Baptist Church. The church’s pastor has not returned multiple calls seeking comment; but, sources tell CBS that the church leadership was aware of the accusations facing now 32 year old Charles Kyle Adcock when he was hired.

“We think it’s incredibly irresponsible and reckless to have hired him in the first place,” says Amy Smith, who works with SNAP: Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Smith say she took to twitter to blast First Baptist’s pastor for hiring Adcock, and says she was immediately blocked from the church’s feed. Smith and another supporter staged a hastily arranged protest outside the church this afternoon. And although they were outnumbered by press, she insists it doesn’t take a crowd to warn parents.

“What we know about predators is they rarely have just one victim” says Smith, “and they’re very manipulative and often will find places like churches to have a position of trust. That word ‘minister’ signals to most churchgoers that he is safe.”

But, critics of the hire say Kyle is anything but. According to Alabama court documents, one of the terms of Adcock’s release was that he live with and be under the supervision of his parents in Grapevine.

“They’re all missionaries and good people! So, yes, it shocks me,” says one neighbor, who didn’t want her name used. “It shocks me very much!” And yet, the mother and grandmother stressed that even absent a conviction, the accusation is enough to cause her concern.

“There’s young children, there’s 14 year olds, and there’s also a school not far from here… there’s young children in this neighborhood.”

And there are also children at Bedford’s First Baptist Church. SNAP advocates are encouraging parents to talk to their children and if they suspect any inappropriate behavior or contact, they’re asked to take those concerns to police. And by all means, says Smith, avoid church leadership.

“Sadly, many times, it’s a very typical, dangerous response– which is to protect the institution of church, and the image and reputation of the perpetrator or the pastor of the church, or the name on the building… instead of children,” says Smith, “and we say, `why take the risk?’ Why take the risk of hiring a guy who’s about to go on trial for 29 counts of rape and sodomy of a child? Why take the risk? Err on the side of caution and place the safety of kids, first.”