A Vernon pastor who is a minister at the First Assembly of God Church has been accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in church and at a motel after drugging her with meth.
Brian Keith Pounds, 45, of the First Assembly of God Church, has been arrested by the Vernon Police Department on July 16 for providing methamphetamine to a 15-year-old girl, identified only as Jane Doe, and sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions inside the church and at a motel, Fox News reported.
On July 1, the victim's mother notified the police that she was trying to locate her daughter at a motel along U.S. route 287. When an officer went to the motel to enquire about the girl, he reportedly found Pounds there. The suspect told the police officer that he was a minister at the First Assembly of God Church and that he was getting a room at the motel for a "person in need."
Later that same day, the victim's mother found the minor at a Walmart north of the motel. The underage girl was subsequently brought to the police where she revealed that she had been having sexual relations with Pounds for about a month. She also told the police that she smoked meth in the motel room with the minister, according to CBS 42.
Pounds denied having sexually coerced the girl and said he was only providing his services to the victim and her family as a minister of the church. The suspect gave police officials permission to search his flat, which was registered in the church’s name. After a thorough search of his apartment, the police reportedly found physical evidence of methamphetamine, as well as fiber, and hair, indicating that the victim had been in his room.
The victim has been taken to the United Regional Hospital and admitted for medical complications from smoking meth.
The minor told police that Pounds groomed her by getting her a job cleaning houses. She revealed that she used to meet Pounds at the church in the name of counseling during which Pounds used to offer her meth to smoke. She revealed that their first sexual encounter happened in the church, according to Times Record News.
On July 1, the day the victim was reported missing by her mother, Pounds allegedly took the minor to the motel, gave her meth, and had sex with her, the underage girl testified. She also said Pounds put both hands around her neck and choked her during the sexual act.
Pounds has been arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety and charged with sexual assault. His bond has been set at $200,000.
The disgraced minister now faces an additional charge of delivery of a controlled substance to a minor set with a $100,000 bail after investigators presented a warrant affidavit on Monday, July 19, and charged him with additional offenses.
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