Former Pastor Sentenced for Sex With Girls in Church

March 29, 2007, WRAL.com (Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville)

LUMBERTON, N.C. — A former pastor was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a 12-year-old girl who had his child.

Ronald Lee Simpson, 42, of Parkton, was sentenced to between 15 years and 18 years behind bars Tuesday for having sex with the girl between late 2003 and August 2004. He also pleaded guilty to molesting a 14-year-old girl at his church.

The pastor's 19-year-old stepson also pleaded guilty last year to molesting the 12-year-old girl. He was sentenced to between 16 months and 20 months in jail, but the sentence was suspended.

Simpson's attorney, Hugh Rogers, said the minister pleaded guilty to avoid as much as 50 years in prison. The pastor resigned from St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church after the allegations against him surfaced.

Assistant District Attorney Joe Osman said the state's case included DNA evidence that linked the minister to the crimes against the 12-year-old girl and testimony from the 14-year-old victim.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.

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