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Former Pastor Charged With Molesting Girl

POSTED: Thursday, March 27, 2008

The former pastor of Shiloh Baptist Metropolitan Church already accused of sending a lewd text message to a girl younger than 16 is facing two additional charges, including one that he fondled a child.

Darrell Gilyard had already pleaded not guilty to the original charge of lewd or lascivious conduct on a child younger than 16. Thursday morning, he pleaded not guilty to a second count of lewd conduct and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation.

After his initial arrest in January, his attorney released a statement saying Gilyard had been "instrumental in building Shiloh Baptist from a few to several thousand, and improving many neighborhoods and the lives of young people following a path of crime and drugs."

A few days later, he resigned from the church.

Leaving court on Thursday, neither Gilyard nor his lawyer had any comment.

A Shiloh member whose wife has heard from people claiming to be Gilyard's victims attended the hearing.

"He is a mega-pastor. He is an awesome speaker," the man told Channel 4's Adam Landau. "With that recognition comes power. Sometimes, people abuse their power."

Gilyard remains free on $50,000 bond.

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