Former Franklin County Pastor Charged With Sexual Torture, Abuse

ALABAMA
WHNT

April 2, 2013, by Carter Watkins and Melissa Payne

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) – A former pastor in Franklin County is charged with sexual torture and abuse.

Freddy Hovater, 72, was arrested on October 1, 2012 and a grand jury just indicted him on the charges.

Sheriff Shannon Oliver says the abuse happened for nearly a year inside Hovater’s home in Spruce Pine. The victim was an 8-year-old girl. Her family attended Hovater’s church.

Sheriff Oliver did not say which church Hovater used to lead.

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