A North Carolina pastor has been arrested on suspicion of child sex abuse. Michael King, 65, of Damascus Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in Salisbury was arrested after a three-month investigation.
According to WSOC, the alleged abuse occurred in 1991 at multiple locations, including at Damascus Emmanuel Pentecostal Church.
Tiffany Summers, who has known King for many years, told the WSOC, “I’m just sad to hear this.”
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“Regular man and everything,” Summers added. “You wouldn’t think he’d do something like this behind closed doors.”
King was arrested on Tuesday (Sept. 9). He has been charged with one count of indecent liberties with a minor, one count of second-degree rape, and one count of rape by a custodian/guardian.
King is being held at the Rowan County jail without bond.
“The hard work of our investigators in bringing this case forward deserves recognition,” said Salisbury Police Chief P.J. Smith.
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“At the same time,” continued Smith, “it is profoundly concerning when a person in a position of trust is accused of violating that trust.”
