Former pastor charged with molesting girl
March 27, 2008
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| Video: Ex-pastor pleads not guilty to new charges |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The former pastor of Shiloh Baptist Metropolitan Church already accused of sending a lewd text message to a girl younger than 16 is facing two additional charges, including one that he fondled a child.
Darrell Gilyard had already pleaded not guilty to the original charge of lewd or lascivious conduct on a child younger than 16. Thursday morning, he pleaded not guilty to a second count of lewd conduct and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation.
After his initial arrest in January, his attorney released a statement saying Gilyard had been "instrumental in building Shiloh Baptist from a few to several thousand, and improving many neighborhoods and the lives of young people following a path of crime and drugs."
A few days later, he resigned from the church.
Leaving court on Thursday, neither Gilyard nor his lawyer had any comment.
A Shiloh member whose wife has heard from people claiming to be Gilyard's victims attended the hearing. "He is a mega-pastor. He is an awesome speaker," the man told Channel 4's Adam Landau. "With that recognition comes power. Sometimes, people abuse their power."
Gilyard remains free on $50,000 bond.