LOUISIANA
The Times-Picayune
By Ken Daley, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
The jailed former pastor of a Marrero church was accused of rape and other sex crimes against seven child victims Thursday (Nov. 3) in a nine-count indictment handed up by an Orleans Parish grand jury.
Algiers’ Sherman R. Smith, 56, was a pastor at Marrero’s Second Highway Baptist Church, at 1533 Haydel Drive. Authorities said Smith took advantage of his position of trust to rape or sexually abuse young girls who often were friends of his own children. Seven different victims are named in the indictment, which charges Smith with sex crimes against juveniles alleged to have occurred between September 1989 and November 2001.
Criminal District Court Judge Ben Willard raised Smith’s bond amount from $2.35 million to $5 million after the new indictment was read.
Smith initially was arrested last November on first-degree rape and sexual battery charges after three people came forward. He was booked with additional charges Sept. 13, court records showed, that included indecent behavior with a juvenile, sexual battery and molestation of a juvenile or person with a disability.
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