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