Former Youth Pastor Sentenced For Molesting Teen Parishioner

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former youth pastor at First Baptist Church New Orleans has been sentenced to a 10-year state prison term after pleading guilty to a dozen criminal charges related to the molestation of a young female member of his congregation.

Thirty-five-year-old Jonathan Bailey pleaded guilty Monday to five counts of molestation of a juvenile, six counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and a count of obstruction of justice.

The New Orleans Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/2aOErQa) Bailey wept during a hearing at which the girl's father testified in support of a plea agreement reached to avoid a trial that was scheduled to begin Monday.

Bailey was arrested Feb. 20, 2015, shortly after being removed from the church.

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Information from: The New Orleans Advocate, http://www.neworleansadvocate.com

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