VIRGINIA
The News-Gazette
Written by Roberta Anderson
It took a jury of six men and six women less than 30 minutes to find Larry Clark, former pastor of the Pentecostal Outreach Church in Buena Vista, guilty of three charges of taking indecent liberties with and two charges of carnal knowledge of a minor in Rockbridge County Circuit Court.
The verdict came following two days of testimony from witnesses including the victim of the sexual assault as well as supporters of Clark from his former church.
The jurors also quickly decided on sentencing recommendations. They recommended that Clark receive five years in prison and a $2,500 fine for each count of taking indecent liberties with a child and 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine on each count of carnal knowledge. Clark’s attorneys requested a presentencing report, and Judge Michael Irvine set Jan. 5, 2015 as the sentencing date.
During his summation for the jury, assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Christopher Billias questioned why the victim would make up the accusations against the pastor of the church that had previously been a focal point in the child’s life. “Why would he put himself through this?” Billias asked.
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