In fact, the sentence could be much steeper. Each Level 1 child-molesting felony in Indiana carries a 20- to 50-year prison sentence, because the alleged offender was 21 or older and the alleged victim was 12 or younger.
RELATED: Robert Morris Surrenders, Booked on Child Sex Abuse, Then Released on $50K Bond
At an initial hearing on March 18, a judge set bail for Strong at $200,000. A jury trial for the former pastor, who was assigned a public defender, is scheduled for September.
District Immediately Removed Indiana Pastor Rodger Strong
In an email to ChurchLeaders, District Superintendent Kellerman said he was advised not to comment on Strong’s arrest and pending trial. But he wrote, “I can say that the Northeastern Indiana District Church of the Nazarene (of which Orland is a part) and the Church of the Nazarene as a whole condemns this alleged misconduct. Such behavior is inconsistent with who we are as a Church.”
Kellerman added:
Upon hearing Rodger was being investigated, I met with him on March 6 which resulted in me removing him as pastor effective immediately. Subsequently, I met with the 7 remaining members of the Orland congregation on March 9. Since they are unable to provide the resources necessary to keep the church open, the consensus was that the church should close which occurred immediately following my meeting with them.
The district superintendent ended by writing, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and family.”
ChurchLeaders also requested comment from Strong and Orland Church of the Nazarene and will update this article with any reply.
 for allegedly molesting a 5-year-old girl last year.){kind=link}