Church Members React to Preacher Arrested for Sex Crimes
- October 17, 2008
Lawrence Webber
CHARLOTTE, N.C.– A local preacher is in the Mecklenburg County Jail and charged with sex crimes against children. Police arrested 60-year-old Lawrence Webber, a member of the Reeder Memorial Baptist Church on Beatties Ford Road in north Charlotte.
He has been charged with eight felony sex crimes against two children under 13 years old.
It is not clear whether the children went to the church; police will only say they received evidence from the children.
Records from the North Carolina Department of Corrections show that Webber was previously convicted of indecent liberties with a child.
That particular charge stems from an incident in 1991 in Gaston County.
One member of Reeder Memorial Baptist Church said he has known Webber for more than 50 years and was shocked to hear about the latest allegations.
“That bothers me,” said Thomas Sowell. “I don’t know how to even respond to that because I don’t know how to respond to any man doing that.”
Sowell said Webber has delivered a few sermons at Reeder Memorial Baptist Church.
“He probably hasn’t preached here over three times since he’s been there, if that,” said Sowell. “I’m sorry that it happened for him, but he made a bad choice, and he has to live with it.”
Webber is charged with three counts of first degree rape and five counts of indecent liberties with a child.
He is due in court on Monday.
Cited From:
http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-092808-sjf-preacherarrested.bfd01ed0.html
