LAS VEGAS: Evangelical Pastor Arrested For Molesting Teenage Boys

In a case highly similar to that of Atlanta's "Bishop" Eddie Long, a pastor in Las Vegas has been arrested and charged with 11 felony counts of molesting teenage boys. According to police, Pastor Billy Eskstine McCurdy used biblical verses to coerce the boys into sex.

North Las Vegas police arrested Billy Eckstine McCurdy, 57, following an eight-month investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted teen boys at his home. McCurdy is the pastor at Revival Temple Church of God in Christ at the intersection of Tonopah and Vegas drives. At the church Friday night, men in all black suits said no church officials were prepared to comment on the arrest. The new charges involve two teen boys who said McCurdy forced them into sexual relationships with him. They told police he used his position in the church and Bible scriptures to force them into sex acts, authorities said. Both boys testified at a grand jury, which indicted McCurdy Thursday on six counts of sexual assault and five counts of open or gross lewdness. He was being held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail.

Police expect other victims to come forward. Five years ago a similar charge was brought against McCurdy, but the case was dropped because prosecutors felt they could not prove their case. Back then McCurdy's parishioners rallied behind him. The historically black (and virulently anti-gay) Church of God in Christ (COGIC) has long been accused of covering up sexual misconduct by its pastors.