Louisiana pentecostal pastor Milton O. Martin III has been charged with carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a minor following allegations that he repeatedly sexually abused a teen at his church.
Martin had been serving as pastor of First Pentecostal Church of Chalmette. He has held that position for 14 years, according to 4WWL.
The accuser, who is now 28 years old, alleges not only that Milton repeatedly abused her but also that the church did nothing to investigate earlier claims of sexual abuse. She further claims that the Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship (WPF), the denomination of which First Pentecostal Church is a member, failed to supervise Martin around children.
The accuser has filed a separate civil suit, according to The Guardian.
RELATED: SBC Sexual Abuse Survivors Respond to Executive Committee’s Amicus Brief Statement
First Pentecostal Church of Chalmette is still listed as a member of WPF on the denomination’s website, and Milton is still listed as the church’s pastor.
Milton, 56, was initially arrested in March, when he was accused of carnal knowledge of a juvenile (otherwise known as statutory rape) and sexual battery. Milton allegedly had “sexual relations with a juvenile on multiple occasions” from 2010 to 2013 with a victim who was between the ages of 14 and 17 at the time.
At the time, state police said the investigation was ongoing. A month later, Milton was arrested a second time after he was accused of having sex with a separate 14-year-old victim in 1991.
Police say that the investigation into Milton’s behavior began back in November 2022.
RELATED: SBC Lawyers Side Against Sexual Abuse Survivor in Amicus Brief to Kentucky Supreme Court
Roughly six months after being arrested for a second time and released on bail, Milton was officially indicted on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Charges pertaining to Martin’s second arrest were not included in the indictment, though more charges could be added later.
