BishopAccountability.org
	Forney Pastor Gets 10 Years" Probation for Sexual Assault of Teen By Jennifer Emily The Dallas Morning News April 3, 2010 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-pastor_03met.ART.State.Edition1.4d0427b.html A pastor was sentenced to 10 years' probation Friday after pleading "no contest" to a charge of sexually assaulting a child. Dallas County prosecutors say Lester Cody III assaulted the girl when she was 15 and 16. Cody was given deferred adjudication probation, which means he will not have a criminal record if he follows the terms of his probation. He must also pay a $10,000 fine. Cody was a minister at Faith Crossing Church in Forney when he was arrested, but prosecutors say the abuse occurred when the church was in Mesquite. Cody was the girl's minister and a family friend. The victim remained silent about the molestation until she heard a sermon about forgiveness in her new church, said Dallas County prosecutor Meredith Behgooy. She approached the pastor in October 2006 at age 20 to ask how she could forgive someone who molested her. He told her she needed to call the police. The victim, who is now 23 and recently married, took the witness stand to address Cody after he was sentenced by State District Judge Fred Tinsley. The law allows victims or their families to address defendants directly to talk about the impact the crime had on them. The woman, who is not being named because The Dallas Morning News does not typically name victims of sex crimes, told Cody he misused his position as a minister and friend by abusing her. She told him that both her innocence and childhood were "cut short." "My wounds have healed, but my scars will never go away," the woman said, reading from a written statement. She added that her "soul is at peace" now that the molestation is no longer a secret. Cody sat at the defense table and looked down as she spoke. Cody wants to continue his work as a minister. If he does so, another adult must be present when he is around anyone younger than 17, according to the terms of his probation. He also cannot work at a church that has a day care. After the hearing, bailiffs and investigators from the district attorney's office had the woman's family leave first and exit the courthouse a different way than Cody and his family. Cody declined to comment after the hearing. But his attorney, Alyce Ferguson, said that justice was not carried out. "Our justice system doesn't always work like it's supposed to. Unfortunately, you work with what you've got," Ferguson said. "In these cases [involving sex crimes], you're guilty until you're proven innocent." Behgooy said Cody was guilty of the crime. A second charge of sexually assaulting a child against Cody was dismissed. "We've agreed to this punishment, and I'm glad it's over with for the family," she said. "It's the best for everyone." Contact: jemily@dallasnews.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.