Sherwood pastor pleads not guilty to 70 counts of child porn

By Marine Glisovic
KATV
May 10, 2016

http://katv.com/news/local/former-local-pastor-faces-70-counts-of-child-porn

Former Sherwood pastor Dave Reynolds has pleaded not guilty to 70 counts of child pornography charged against him.

Reynolds appeared in Sherwood District Court Wednesday. His bond was set at $250,000.

The elders of Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, where Reynolds served as pastor, has issued a statement to Channel 7 News, following his arrest:

On March 7th the elders of Cornerstone removed Dave Reynolds from all responsibility at Cornerstone. Dave had informed two of the elders that he was engaged in pornography and thought the elders might learn of this from another party, hence he decided to inform us of his involvement in this sin. Those two elders specifically asked Dave if he had viewed under age pornography to which he replied that he had not knowingly done so.

Our present concern is with the people of Cornerstone to whom the Lord has entrusted us as shepherds. We have been and will continue to pursue all avenues to determine whether any of Cornerstone's people may have been directly or indirectly affected by any actions Dave may have taken.

We are saddened that one who we trusted is accused of a crime and sin so significant and as defiling of humans as this. Yet we also remember that Dave denies any involvement in this crime and sin and, under the laws of Arkansas and the United States, remains innocent until proven guilty.

We have asked all of our people to join in prayer for our congregation, for any who may have been directly impacted by Dave's actions and for his family and Dave.

Reynolds' attorney, Blake Hendrix, released this statement to KATV:

Mr. Reynolds has pleaded not guilty and intends to vigorously defend himself against the accusations.

Channel 7 News has also obtained the affidavit for Reynolds' arrest, which includes details of the investigation. We have redacted personal information and any information identifying alleged victims.

A former pastor at a local church is behind bars on 70 counts of child porn.

David G. Reynolds faces 70 counts of "C" felony distributing, possessing or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. Police said there is no evidence that any local children are among those in the photographs.

According to the Sherwood Police Department, they received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children back in January 2016.

The Arkansas Internet Crimes against Children Task Force reported that an Internet account in Sherwood had gone to an online social media account where multiple images of child porn were stored.

Sherwood PD, along with the Special Investigations Division of the Office of the Arkansas Attorney General, investigated and found evidence to charge Reynolds with the 70 counts of child porn.

Police did not release which local church Reynolds used to be a pastor at, but they said church leaders have been "fully cooperative with law enforcement in assuring the safety, protection, and identification of any possible victims among the congregation" throughout the investigation.