AP: Texas

01/04/2005

Associated Press

The former pastor of Westside Victory Baptist Church surrendered to authorities Monday on charges accusing him of sexually abusing three young brothers.

The Rev. Larry Nuell Neathery was being held in the Tarrant County Jail late Monday with bail set at $750,000. With the latest charges, Neathery is accused of sexual misconduct with six males.

Neathery, who resigned as Westside Victory's pastor several weeks ago, was accused in April of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old male church member.

"If there ever was an innocent person charged with this many offenses, it is him," defense attorney Don Carter said in a story in Monday's online edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "He told me when he was going into the jail, he said, `Mr. Carter, I'm innocent. I have not done these things, but I'm turning myself in as the law requires me to.'

"In his words, he is going to depend on the Lord to take care of him."

The brother's mother reported the accusations to police in early December. A Child Protective Services worker interviewed the boys, then ages 11, 12 and 7.

An affidavit filed with charges alleges Neathery told the boys he would beat them "until they were vegetables" if they did not masturbate as he told them to.

The 11-year-old told authorities he had been abused since he was 5. He said the first time was at Neathery's church office.

"The victim said that any time he wouldn't do what Larry told him to do, Larry would threaten to beat the victim until he was a vegetable," the affidavit states.

The cases are to be presented to a grand jury.

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Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.star-telegram.com