Former South Dakota Pastor Living In Denver Accused Of Sex Crime
SELBY, S.D. (AP) - A former South Dakota pastor and educator living in Denver is accused of having sexual contact with a minor six years ago.
Authorities allege that Timothy Thompson, 38, had sexual contact with a boy younger than 16 in 2008 when he was a pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Mobridge. Thompson also previously served as a middle school and high school principal in McLaughlin.
The person who claims Thompson abused him did not come forward until this past summer, Walworth County State's Attorney James Hare told KELO-TV.
"You see this a lot of times with children victims. (They) don't report until they become adults or later in life, and this is just a prime example of that," he said.
Defense attorney Jennifer Coleman said it is not a case of rape, and that it is one person's word against another's. She also said Thompson does not have a criminal record.
A judge on Monday set Thompson's bond at $15,000 and ordered that he not leave the area and or have unsupervised contact with children. Thompson is due back in court Oct. 14. He could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Thompson moved to Denver in February 2013 and worked as an administrator at a parochial school before his arrest last month, according to the American News of Aberdeen.
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