MISSISSIPPI
WBRC
Wednesday, August 10th 2016
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) –
A former Baptist minister, Reverend Jonathan Bailey, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after admitting to sexually abusing a 13-year-old in Louisiana and during a retreat in Mississippi.
The child was a member of his church.
According to Nola.com, Bailey pleaded guilty to six counts of molestation, five counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of obstruction of justice.
He must also register as a sex offender.
According to the indictment, the sexual abuse occurred between July 1, 2014, and Feb. 8, 2015, at locations including the church and during a retreat in Mississippi. Nola.com reports that the victim’s father said Bailey is facing additional charges in Mississippi, which contributed to their eagerness to resolve the case in Louisiana.
The allegations surfaced a month after the victim’s 14th birthday when church officials said they saw surveillance video showing the girl and the youth minister slipping into a closet together during a Feb. 8 church function. The girl’s parents were notified, as well as New Orleans police and Bailey was fired the next day.
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