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  Ex-Pastor Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Abuse Charges

By Chris Freiberg
News Miner
April 21, 2010

http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/7148523/article-Ex-pastor-pleads-not-guilty-to-sex-abuse-charges?instance=home_lead_story

The former pastor of a Fairbanks church was back in the state Tuesday to answer charges that he engaged in a months-long sexual relationship with a teenage girl.

Shawn Anthony Justice, 32, was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Douglas Blankenship. Justice pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts of sexual abuse of a minor, a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

A $25,000 warrant for Justice's arrest was issued last month following the indictment, but the indictment was quashed three weeks ago after Justice said that he would come back from the Lower 48 to face the charges.

Exact conditions of release for Justice will be set at another hearing Friday. Nelson Traverso, his attorney, said a retired nurse and another pastor in town are willing to act as third party custodians for Justice. In the meantime, Blankenship ordered Justice not to leave the Fairbanks North Star Borough or have any contact with children under the age of 18.

The father of the teenage victim said that he has concerns that Justice will continue to act as a youth minister while he is free.

While prosecutor Tom Jamgochian said that Justice has no prior criminal history, the father presented documents showing a Sean Anthony Justice with the same birthday as the pastor was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in 2003 in Virginia.

Jamgochian said the paperwork appears legitimate.

The News-Miner does not identify victims of sex crimes and is not identifying the father of the victim because it could identify her as well.

Justice was hired as the pastor of the Corinthian Baptist Church in 2007 and led the church for 15 months before he was dismissed in August 2008. He then led a satellite church, also in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks police believe Justice met the 15-year-old victim while he was pastor. Justice initially engaged in suspicious activity with the girl, such as sending her inappropriate text messages at church functions, according to police.

However, the relationship between Justice and the teen allegedly became sexual last summer, months after he was dismissed as pastor of the church.

Justice's firing led to a lengthy court case about whether it is the church's leadership or its congregation that has the right to fire a pastor.

Supporters said that Justice attracted new worshipers, especially younger people to the church, while trustees said they found his leadership lacking.

At recent hearings, the attorney for the church members said that Justice's indictment rendered many of the complaints of the church members moot.

Contact: cfreiberg@newsminer.com

 
 

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