Former minister sentenced for sex abuse of teen parishioner

By Morgan Howard
WBRC
August 10, 2016

http://www.wbrc.com/story/32728417/former-mississippi-minister-admits-to-child-sex-crime

Source: Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office

JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

A former Baptist minister, Reverend Jonathan Bailey, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after admitting to sexually abusing a 13-year-old in Louisiana and during a retreat in Mississippi.

The child was a member of his church. 

According to Nola.com, Bailey pleaded guilty to six counts of molestation, five counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of obstruction of justice.

He must also register as a sex offender.

According to the indictment, the sexual abuse occurred between July 1, 2014, and Feb. 8, 2015, at locations including the church and during a retreat in Mississippi. Nola.com reports that the victim's father said Bailey is facing additional charges in Mississippi, which contributed to their eagerness to resolve the case in Louisiana. 

The allegations surfaced a month after the victim's 14th birthday when church officials said they saw surveillance video showing the girl and the youth minister slipping into a closet together during a Feb. 8 church function. The girl's parents were notified, as well as New Orleans police and Bailey was fired the next day.

It is also reported that Bailey communicated with the girl via text messages and directed her to erase them. 

The organization, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, is challenging any colleagues of Reverend Bailey to help expose any other information or suspicions of victims in this crime.

"We urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in churches or institutions to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface."

If you have any information please contact your local police department.