Smyrna pastor charged with child molestation, rape

GEORGIA
11 Alive

Greg Rossino, WXIA September 16, 2016

SMYRNA, Ga. — A local pastor has been arrested and charged with child molestation and rape following an investigation from County Police Department’s Crimes Against Children’s Unit.

According to detectives, the investigation originally began in Dothan, Alabama, leading to the interview of a 10-year-old juvenile victim.

During the interview, the juvenile victim disclosed she was sexually abused by “Pastor 7” David Wells, while staying at the recovery center, The Garden, in Smyrna, Ga. with family.

The Garden, which “is home to about 60 women and 40 children that have been rescued from homelessness or broken situations,” was founded by Wells back in 2008.

According to the recovery center’s website, “(Wells) was released from prison in 2000 and God told him to go into the streets and under the bridges and love those with this new love he had been given. Eventually, he was given a home and began rescuing men off the streets and bringing them into his house. Then, women and children started showing up wanting help and God eventually provided the Garden, a home for women and children.”

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