BishopAccountability.org
	Former Fairbanks Pastor Stays out of Jail before Abuse Trial By Chris Freiberg News Miner April 24, 2010 http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/7186234/article-Former-Fairbanks-pastor-stays-out--of-jail-before-abuse-trial?instance=home_news_window_left_top_4 The former pastor of a Fairbanks church accused of having sex with a teenage girl does not have to post bail while his case is pending. Shawn Anthony Justice, the 32-year-old former pastor of Corinthian Baptist Church, was back in court Friday morning to get his third party custodian approved and have a judge set other conditions of release. He has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Though the state requested Justice post $25,000 cash bail to remain out of jail ahead of a trial, Superior Court Judge Michael McConahy said he did not think any bail was necessary since Justice voluntarily returned to Alaska from the Lower 48 when he was indicted. A $25,000 warrant for Justice's arrest was quashed when he told authorities he would return to the state voluntarily. Prosecutor Gayle Garrigues said she has concerns that despite being warned by her parents to stay away from the then-13-year-old girl in late 2008 when he reportedly was sending her inappropriate text messages, Justice allegedly contacted the girl online a few months later and had sex with her on multiple occasions. "It really tells us he can't be trusted," Garrigues said. "He's told not to do something, and he still does it." Calling Justice a man who has "boundary issues with minors," Garrigues said she has received information that Justice has engaged in inappropriate but not necessarily illegal conduct with other youngsters. The victim's father said he is concerned Justice is a flight risk, and he also requested that the court impose some amount of bail. Justice appeared in court with local attorney Nelson Traverso, but Traverso said they have not yet come to a deal for Justice to obtain Traverso's services throughout the case. McConahy approved Evelyn Gibson, a retired nurse, as Justice's guardian and said Rev. Roosevelt Gray Jr., the pastor of the Fairbanks Christian Center, is responsible for transporting Justice to court hearings if Gibson is unable to accompany Justice. The judge also ordered Justice to have no contact with minors and banned Justice from using a cell phone or the Internet while the case is pending. 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. 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 Justice attracted new worshipers, especially younger people, to the church, while trustees said they found his leadership lacking. Lawyer's have said Justice's indictment rendered many of the complaints of the church members moot, but they have not resolved the case. On Thursday, Superior Court Judge Paul Lyle ordered the two sides to come to an agreement by June 2 or set a trial date. Contact: cfreiberg@newsminer.com
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