The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.
Richard Taylor, youth pastor at Dutch Fork Baptist Church — located in Irmo, South Carolina — in the 1980s, has been charged with “third-degree criminal sexual conduct and common law assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.”
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has announced the arrest of a former Columbia pastor charged with sexual assault from the late 1980s.
Sheriff Leon Lott says Richard Taylor has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct and common law assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
During a bond hearing on Wednesday, a judge awarded Taylor with a $25,000 surety bond.
According to the department’s investigation, between 1989 and 1991, Taylor sexually assaulted a 17-year-old male victim on several incidents while serving as a youth pastor at Dutch Fork Baptist Church located at 3517 Dreher Shoals Road.
RCSD investigators were able to obtain arrest warrants for Taylor who turned himself into investigators on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
We spoke with the alleged victim in this case who told us he came from a very safe home, but he often didn’t feel like he was getting much love or attention.
He says this made it easy for the former youth pastor to quickly gain his trust by showing him a lot of affection and buying him gifts — those gifts came at a much higher price.
“Meeting my emotional and psychological needs that I wasn’t getting at home or through my social group of friends and he provided love, support, attention, gifts – that eventually came at the cost of fondling, mutual sexual acts and then rape,” the victim said.
Pastor Dr. Chuck McAlister with Dutch Fort Baptist Church says that Taylor has not been a part of their church for more than 20 years and they have not had any contact with him.
“Given the nature and direction our society is going, it’s sad these things happen,” McAlister said. “Our hearts go out to the victims. Our message is of redemption and anyone can find healing in whatever they have experienced through Jesus Christ. Our church stands ready to offer to heal to anyone in need.” [Talk about a bullshit “apology”, blaming society for Taylor’s criminal behavior. Everyone just needs to get saved and all will be well, right? Isn’t Taylor saved? Isn’t EVERY pastor featured in the Black Collar Crime Series saved? It seems clear, then, that salvation does not keep men from committing sex crimes.]
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