Former pastor arrested in NH on sexual assault charges from Mass.

By Jennifer Crompton
WMUR
April 02, 2018

http://www.wcvb.com/article/former-pastor-arrested-in-nh-on-sexual-assault-charges-from-mass/19665697

SEABROOK, N.H. —
A Seabrook man is being held without bail after he was accused of raping a child while he was serving as a pastor in the Methodist Church.

Russell Davis, 65, faces several charges in Massachusetts. Seabrook police said they arrested Davis Thursday on a fugitive from justice warrant. The Essex County District Attorney's Office said he is being held without bail because he is still employed in the ministry and has access to children.

Davis pleaded not guilty in Newburyport District Court to charges out of Rowley, Massachusetts, of rape of a child with force and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, and a charge of rape from Newbury, Massachusetts.

Prosecutors said the allegations involve the same victim and incidents that occurred in April 2004.

According to the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, Davis was a licensed Methodist minister from 1999 to 2015. His first assignment was in Warren, New Hampshire.

Davis moved among several churches in Maine and Massachusetts after that until his license was discontinued in 2015. A spokesperson for the church would not say why his license was discontinued but said it was not related to sexual misconduct.

It's unclear whether Davis has been affiliated with any churches in New Hampshire since then.

Davis is scheduled to be back in court Wednesday for a bail hearing