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  Minister Indicted for Aggravated Rape of 11-Year-Old Girl

Associated Press, carried in Times-Picayune
October 18, 2006

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-28/1161149813246400.xml&storylist=louisiana

Mansfield, La. (AP) — Burchum Paul Warren, 50, pastor of South Oak Grove Assembly of God Church, was indicted Tuesday for the aggravated rape an 11-year-old girl over a period of months, DeSoto sheriff's Lt. Toni Morris said. Warren has been pastor of the church for 15 or more years.

The victim, a relative and church member, reported the alleged abuse to a teacher. As a mandated reporter, the teacher notified the sheriff's office. Child Protective Services and sheriff's investigators jointly interviewed the girl earlier this month.

"This child had the courage enough to approach a teacher at school to report this, Morris said. "One of the things she told her teacher is 'No one is going to believe me because of who he is and what he does."

Investigators seized Warren's laptop computer, which contained "images of a sexual nature that corroborated the victim's statement," Morris said. "But there was nothing on the computer that we found that is illegal."

District Judge Charles Adams signed a warrant for Warren's arrest shortly after the DeSoto grand jury returned the indictment about 3 p.m Tuesday.

 
 

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