Child Molestation: Not Just for Catholics Anymore

[Comrade Tortoise]

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6912813

Church Leader Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges

Aug 10, 2007 08:30 PM
CARTHAGE, Tenn.

A Smith County church leader is accused of raping boys and exposing them to HIV.

Maurice Carter, 44, faces 61 charges related to child sex abuse, child exploitation and exposure to the virus that causes AIDS, a serious and often fatal disease.

Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Carter is HIV positive. Carter is a leader at a Baptist church in Riddleton, which is an hour east of Nashville.

During a traffic stop earlier this year, police found Carter in the vehicle with a boy. The traffic stop initiated an investigation, during which Carter shared his health status.

Investigators said the alleged abuse happened in Rutherford and Smith counties.

The charges against Carter include four counts of child rape; in these cases, the victim was younger than 13 years old. He also faces 23 counts of criminal exposure to HIV and several other child exploitation charges.

TBI investigators said at least one case of abuse happened in Carter's church, Lily Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

Investigators also suspect there are other victims.

"This case has kind of taken on a life of its own and I don't think anything at this point would surprise investigators in this case," said Kristin Helms, a TBI spokeswoman.

Computers and videotapes were among the evidence confiscated from Carter's home and a storage unit. Several unidentified minors appear in the videos, TBI officials said.

"We know right now we have several victims," Helms said."We still have unidentified people in pictures and we are expecting more victims to come forward."

Leaders of HIV/AIDS organizations in Middle Tennessee said there are support networks available to help those victims figure out what to do next.

"As someone living with HIV, it's just not okay, especially intentionally because it puts someone at risk," said Dr. Joseph Interrante, CEO of Nashville CARES, the state's largest AIDS service organization.

Interrante said the victims must take a critical first step.

"If you've been exposed, which clearly these kids have been in these situations, then they need to be tested," Interrante said.

They have to be tested twice to make sure the result is accurate.

"There isn't a number that you can throw out there. The risk, it really varies," Interrante said when asked what chances Carter's victims contracted HIV.

After a diagnosis, Interrante said the next step is finding support.

"God forbid they turn out to be HIV, they have to negotiate out what it means to grow into adulthood with HIV as well and that's not easy to do," he said.

It's not an easy thing to do, but not nearly as hard as it once was.

"It's a not a death sentence like it used to be," Interrante said. "There are remarkable treatments that we didn't have 10 years ago and there is a range of supports that we are very lucky to have in Middle Tennessee."

[LadyTevar]

The bastard KNEW he was HIV positive and and STILL Raped KIDS?!??!

If he makes it to trial without an outraged parent killing him, once in jail he's dead the moment he's put in with main population.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Honestly I hope people steal his meds while in prison and he has to die the slow, painful death from secondary infections

[frigidmagi]

They're more likely to do something simple like set him fire in the bathroom CT.