BishopAccountability.org

Another local pastor under investigation, accused of having sex with a minor

Loop
February 18, 2017

http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/another-local-pastor-under-investigation-accused-having-sex-minor


The businessman and operator of a downtown Kingston funeral home, who is now before the courts on allegations he molested a boy in St Catherine is also a Bishop of a church and a member of the revivalist movement in Jamaica.

Probe by Loop News has found that Shawn Lawrence - who last week identified himself only as a business operator after he was charged with buggery and indecent assault following an investigation by CISOCA detectives, is also a religious leader.

The accused appeared in the St Catherine Parish Court last week on the charges.

Although the full details were not disclosed in open court, Loop News ascertained that it is being alleged that the molestation occurred during visits to Lawrence’s Linstead, St Catherine home by a church sister and the boy.

Lawrence was remanded in custody until next week when he’s due back in court.

Lawrence has become the latest religious leader in Jamaica to be apprehended following allegations of sexual assault against a minor.

In January of this year, a 55-year-old pastor of a Pentecostal Church in Kingston, Paul Hanniford was convicted in the Home Circuit Court for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.

 In another case, 64 -year-old Moravian pastor Rupert Clarke was charged with rape after he was caught with a 15-year-old girl in St Elizabeth.

Coming on the heels of those developments the former president of the Moravian church, Dr Paul Gardner, was charged with carnal abuse in another case involving a minor.

Gardner as well as Jermaine Gibson, who was vice president of the church, were slapped with the charges following investigations by detectives from the Centre for Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA).




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