Local pastor accused of sex crimes against children
A local pastor was charged again Friday after police said he sexually abused several young boys while serving as a youth pastor.
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Bobby Price bonded out of jail Friday night and faces more than a dozen charges.
Veteran crime reporter Glenn Counts dug into the case and learned the suspect’s brother helped keep him serving the church.
Early Friday morning, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers knocked on the door of Bobby Price’s home and arrested him for sexually abusing kids back in the early 2000s.
The shockwaves were felt at Camino Church when police arrested Bobby Price Friday.
His brother, Rusty Price, is the lead pastor at the church.
The church had a news conference Friday afternoon to answer questions about why he hired his brother.
“This is a tragedy. This is a sad day. It’s hard for our organization. It’s hard for our staff.” said Rusty Price.
This was not the first time he’s dealt with his brother’s troubles with the criminal justice system.
In 2014, Bobby Price pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges that were filed when he was a pastor of Kingsway Church in Concord.
“This is not a case of some big religious organization trying to cover up a bunch of things,” Rusty Price said.
CMPD said that Bobby Price is an associate pastor at Camino.
Rusty Price said he has not re-offended and there are no victims as a result of his current job.
“I’m going to stand here and speak from pure emotion,” Rusty Price said. “I’m very confident that there aren’t.”
Dr. Charles Kats is a criminologist at Arizona State University and has studied registered sex offenders.
“It’s just high risk and it’s an unnecessary risk,” Kats said.
He said it was a mistake to appoint one as pastor.
“That information can be imparted to young people that can be manipulated just like it can be with a teacher or a doctor where we are asking the young person to have faith and trust in the person who is taking care of them,” Kats said.
Rusty Price said it was not a secret that his brother was a registered sex offender and that there were protocols in place that would have prevented him from working with children. Rusty Price said he believes in second chances.
“You got to know something, I love my brother,” he said. “I love my brother and as a family, we’ve gone through some very tough times. So, on a personal level, this is a tough day.”
A registered sex offender can find work as a pastor.
Typically, they must stay 300 feet away from the kids.
This is one of those exceptions in the law because everyone has the right to practice their religion.
LINK: NC Sex Offender Registry
Bobby Price was being held on a $175,000 bond before bonding out.
Any victims relating to Price or anyone with a tip on a case involving Price should call 704-336-7495 and ask for Detective Carey. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 704-334-1600 or visiting http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.
(WATCH: Arrest made after woman reports childhood sex abuse more than a decade later)
