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  Pastor Dickerson's Accuser Gives Graphic Testimony

By Liz Harrison
ABC 30 [Fresno CA]
March 27, 2007

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=local&id=5153753

A Fresno pastor arrested on sexual abuse charges listened today as one of his accusers described the abuse to a judge. Pastor Charles Dickerson of the Pearly Grove Baptist Church in West Fresno is facing rape and child molestation charges involving two teenage girls.

The charges against the pastor surfaced last fall when two teenage girls told their mother they were sexually abused by Dickerson over a period of eight or nine years. (Action News will not be revealing the identities of the girls or their mother to protect their privacy.)

During Monday's preliminary hearing, the mother of the two girls told Superior Court Judge Bruce Smith her daughters reported to her individually that they had been sexually molested by Dickerson.

The oldest daughter told the court through quiet tears that the abuse began when she was eight years old in Dickerson's bedroom. She described in graphic detail how the abuse escalated from touching to rape.

Charles Dickerson has denied the charges all along and he continues to preach at Pearly Grove to a congregation of over 500 people. Half a dozen members of his congregation were in court to show their support. Dickerson is not only pastor of Pearly Grove Baptist Church, he is also the Bishop over all full gospel Baptist Churches in the State of California.

Dickerson's preliminary hearing continues on Tuesday morning, when the younger teenage girl will tell her story to the court.

If the judge decides there is enough evidence in the case, Dickerson will go on trial on the sexual abuse and rape charges.

 
 

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