Church backing pastor jailed on molestation charges
- January 3, 2011
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (ABP) — An American Baptist church in California is standing behind its pastor, currently held on multiple charges of child molestation.
Tommy Gene Daniels, 48. pastor of First Baptist Church in Rio Linda, Calif., was arrested Dec. 9 on felony charges of lewd or lascivious acts with a child and engaging in three or more acts of sexual conduct with a child. His bail is $6 million.
According to local media reports, police arrested Daniels on a warrant in Citrus Heights, Calif., but postponed publicizing the arrest while they continued to investigate the case. The Sacramento Bee quoted a police officer who said Daniels’ original $1 million bail was increased because he is considered a flight risk.
The charges stem from acts that allegedly occurred between June 2004 and June 2007. Police said they investigated an initial complaint against Daniels in 2008 but could not find enough evidence to make an arrest. After a second alleged victim came forward in recent months, the district attorney filed charges Dec. 9 and Daniels was arrested that evening.
More… http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/6003/53/
