VIRGINIA
Roanoke Times
Luanne Rife luanne.rife@roanoke.com 981-3209
LEXINGTON – The first of three trials began Tuesday for a Buena Vista pastor accused of sexually molesting three boys who belonged to his Pentecostal churches, but not before the defense tried to have the prosecutors removed from the case.
Larry McKinley Clark’s attorney, Kelly Cutler, asked the judge to remove Commonwealth’s Attorney Bucky Joyce and his chief deputy, Christopher Billias, who is trying the case. She claimed they inappropriately ignored evidence and steered the story of the alleged teenage victim.
“She’s alleging unethical conduct, which I vehemently deny,” said Billias, who noted this was a last-minute motion by the defense which had the recordings for months. Rockbridge County Circuit Judge Michael Irvine agreed.
Clark was indicted on numerous counts related to alleged sexual assault on three teenage victims. The judge earlier had separated the trials, one for each alleged victim. The first case initially involved 28 counts. Ballias said all but six would not be prosecuted as it would confuse the jury. Instead, he is proceeding with one count of indecent assault and one count of corruption of a minor for each of three years that he claims the assault took place.
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