SOUTH CAROLINA
WBTW
By Associated Press
By WLTX-TV News
SUMTER, SC –
A Sumter pastor has been charged with sexually assaulting three female members of his church.
Police said that 58-year-old Larry Durant had been arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. He also faces four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Police say family members told them Durant coerced the victims into having sex with him starting in 2011. Police say the Word International Ministry pastor told the victims the activity was part of the “healing process” and “private prayer.”
“The manner in which he lured them in, we feel that at some level there’s a strong potential that there may be other victims we’re talking about a span of, right now, over two year,” Sumter’s Deputy Chief Alvin Holston told WLTX on Monday.
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