FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 11/29/2009) A musician at a local COGIC church is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old choir member.
25-year-old Dwayne Wilson, the former music minister at Greater St. Mark Church, faces Statutory Rape charges. Investigators say the teen's mother caught him underneath her daughter's bed.
"We're just praying about it, asking God to fix it, because he's the only who can handle it," said Mrs. Tucker, a member of the church.
She says she's praying for Wilson. He's accused of sneaking into a teenage girl's home and having sex with her while her parents were asleep.
"She told me October 31 they were having sexual intercourse, I said 'You need to stop, because he's a married man,'" said fellow member Thanessa Bennett.
She says the alleged victim told her the relationship had been going on for months.
"She told me they was talking in December, they started having sex after February," she said.
Court papers state November 17 the girl's mom checked on her daughter and noticed an elbow peeking out from beneath the teen's bed. She ran to get her husband. The girl's grandmother then told cops she saw a naked man crawl out of the bedroom window.
Police eventually caught Wilson lying in the backseat of his Toyota Camry parked across the street.
"Church is what he needs, he made a mistake," said Bennett.
Pastor Ronald Rolfe declined our request for an on-camera interview. Off-camera tells us he's been counseling Wlson. He says the 25-year-old asked for forgiveness and remains a member of his church.
Pastor Rolfe says Wilson will also remain a member of the music staff, while the case plays out in court. He says he's aware there may be some parishoners who don't agree with him, but says you can't please everyone.
"I feel that he was wrong, but we forgave him that's what the Bible teaches us. We can't hold anything over his head," said Bennett.
Though Pastor Rolfe says he's reached out to the alleged victim's family, her father tells WREG they are no longer members of his church.
- Musician charged with Statuatory Rape
- Dwayne Wilson released on $30,000 bond
- Alleged victim is 16 years old
(Memphis 11/29/2009) A musician at a local COGIC church is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old choir member.
25-year-old Dwayne Wilson, the former music minister at Greater St. Mark Church, faces Statutory Rape charges. Investigators say the teen's mother caught him underneath her daughter's bed.
"We're just praying about it, asking God to fix it, because he's the only who can handle it," said Mrs. Tucker, a member of the church.
She says she's praying for Wilson. He's accused of sneaking into a teenage girl's home and having sex with her while her parents were asleep.
"She told me October 31 they were having sexual intercourse, I said 'You need to stop, because he's a married man,'" said fellow member Thanessa Bennett.
She says the alleged victim told her the relationship had been going on for months.
"She told me they was talking in December, they started having sex after February," she said.
Court papers state November 17 the girl's mom checked on her daughter and noticed an elbow peeking out from beneath the teen's bed. She ran to get her husband. The girl's grandmother then told cops she saw a naked man crawl out of the bedroom window.
Police eventually caught Wilson lying in the backseat of his Toyota Camry parked across the street.
"Church is what he needs, he made a mistake," said Bennett.
Pastor Ronald Rolfe declined our request for an on-camera interview. Off-camera tells us he's been counseling Wlson. He says the 25-year-old asked for forgiveness and remains a member of his church.
Pastor Rolfe says Wilson will also remain a member of the music staff, while the case plays out in court. He says he's aware there may be some parishoners who don't agree with him, but says you can't please everyone.
"I feel that he was wrong, but we forgave him that's what the Bible teaches us. We can't hold anything over his head," said Bennett.
Though Pastor Rolfe says he's reached out to the alleged victim's family, her father tells WREG they are no longer members of his church.
