A pastor was arrested and charged with groping a man inside a Walmart.
Police allege Jeffrey Smith, 67, approached a man in the men’s bathroom at a Walmart in Mebane, North Carolina, and “grabbed the victim’s genitals” through his clothing.
The arrest warrant accused Smith of “touching the victim… forcibly and against the other person’s will.”
Smith allegedly fled the scene and was arrested behind a nearby Sheetz gas station.
He was charged with one count of sexual assault. If convicted, he could spend up to 90 days in jail and be placed on a sex offender registry, defense attorney Daniel Meier said. WRAL.
“The problem with sexual assault is that it is a recordable sex offense,” Meier said.
‘If you are convicted, you will have to be on the sex offenders’ register for at least 30 years.’
Police allege Jeffrey Smith, 67, approached a man in the men’s bathroom at a Walmart in Mebane, North Carolina, and “grabbed the victim’s genitals” through his clothing.
Smith shared just four months ago that he and his wife were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.
Smith has served as pastor of Mebane Presbyterian Church for 25 years.
Smith has served as pastor of Mebane Presbyterian Church for 25 years.
Prior to that, he was pastor of Wabash Presbyterian Church and previously served as organist and choir director at separate churches.
Last month, Smith gave a sermon at his church about forgiveness and mercy.
Commenting on the sermon ahead of time on Facebook, he wrote: ‘We all like someone to give us a ‘break’ when we make a mistake.
Smith has served as pastor of Mebane Presbyterian Church for 25 years.
Smith is understood to have been placed on “administrative leave” with his church while the case is pending.
“But how merciful are we when someone offends us?”
Smith shared just four months ago that he and his wife were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.
Smith is understood to have been placed on “administrative leave” from his church while the case is pending.
Smith posted $3,000 bail and was released the day of his arrest.
