Ex-youth pastor gets 25 years

By Ashley Mcleod
Hopewell News
May 02, 2016

http://www.hopewellnews.com/article_8221.shtml#.Vyh-3PkrJdc

A Chesterfield man who volunteered as a youth pastor in a Colonial Heights church was sentenced April 25 on several charges stemming from his sexual abuse of several teens in his youth group.
Jeffrey Dale Clark, 47, appeared in Colonial Heights Circuit Court and Chesterfield Circuit Court on Monday, entering into a plea deal which led to a sentencing of a total of 25 years in prison.
The volunteer youth pastor was accused of sexual assaulting several boys from the youth group where he volunteered during a time period which spanned from 2010 until 2015, when the abuse came to light.
Clark was a volunteer youth pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Colonial Heights, where he had been going for a period of five years before leaving after the allegations of abuse were brought against him.
The abuse came to light after a member of the youth group went to their parents with suspicions about Clark inappropriately touching other boys in the group. The parent talked to other parents, and then several victims came forward.
In total, there were seven known victims who told stories of Clark touching them in an inappropriate manner while at his home in Chesterfield, as well as at the church.
In total between the two courts, Clark was charged with six counts of aggravated sexual battery, 14 counts of indecent liberties with a child, one count of forcible sodomy, and two counts of indecent acts with a child by a custodial figure.
In Colonial Heights, the charges on Clark stemmed from two victims, one of which spoke in court about how the abuse has affected him.
The victim, who was 15 years old at the time when the abuse began, told the court about how since the abuse, his life has been completely changed.
“I don’t think anyone will really understand the hell I went through because of this guy,” he stated. “It’s ruined my life to be honest.”
The victim stated that he went from being a happy and popular kid, to be withdrawn and depressed. He also said he knew the abuse was happening to other kids in the group.
As per a plea agreement, Clark pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual battery, while his other charges, which included two counts of indecent acts with a child by a custodial figure and two counts of indecent liberties with a child, were nolle prosequi or set aside.
In Chesterfield Circuit Court, two victims came forward to speak to the court about the defendant. The same victim spoke that was present in Colonial Heights, as well as another, who said that the experience also ruined his life.
“I used to be strong hearted, but he made me feel weak. He’s the reason my life changed,” said the victim.
Clark again pleaded guilty, as per a plea agreement, and was sentenced a total of 90 years for all of the charges combined, with 78 suspended, leaving him to serve 12 years. The two sentencings will have Clark serving time for a total of 25 years. He will be 72 when his sentence is complete.