Child Molestation Trial Underway for Local Pastor, Political Activist

By Stephanie Brown
WOKV
April 4, 2017

http://www.wokv.com/news/local/child-molestation-trial-underway-for-local-pastor-political-activist/lrmWBrh0JcYkT2xwSA3f0N/


Three of the eleven counts he was indicted on were dropped before the proceedings formally started, but now the child molestation trial for controversial pastor Ken Adkins is underway.

Adkins was initially arrested in August 2016 for child molestation and aggravated child molestation. He turned himself in, and has been in the Glynn County, Georgia Jail since.

In November 2016, Adkins was formally indicted on a total of eleven charges, including child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, aggravated child molestation, and influencing a witness. Just ahead of the formal start of the trial, two counts of child molestation and the count of influencing a witness were dropped.

A jury of eleven women and three men- including two alternates- has been seated for this trial.

Prosecutors are setting up their arguments to include that Adkins watched two 15-year-olds having sex, and that he engaged in sexual acts with one. The State also says Adkins told the victims they can never talk about what happened.

One of the victims lived with Adkins, according to the opening statement from prosecutors, while also claims Adkins had sexually explicit conversations with that victim. That victim denies anything sexual, however, saying they have a “daddy-daughter relationship”.

The Defense says the timeline the State has laid out doesn’t match up, and the dates can’t be verified because the allegations stem from years ago.

Adkins is a pastor in Jacksonville and southern Georgia, and has also been a vocal political activist- most notably in Jacksonville’s prior debate over whether to expand the Human Rights Ordinance to give specific protections to the LGBT community, with Adkins speaking against expansion.

Bridgette Matter with our partner Action News Jax is in the courtroom following the proceedings. You can get instant updates by following her on Twitter.