CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The former youth pastor at a Conway church faces numerous charges of sex crimes against four young girls after they revealed the abuse that happened four years ago, according to a report from Horry County police.
Officers responded to Langston Baptist Church, located at 763 Highway 905, on June 27 to speak with the pastor who revealed allegations made against a youth pastor of the church. The pastor informed officers that two girls who attend the church told him they were sexually assaulted by Norman Abernathy, 58, of Conway, four to five years ago. In addition, two other possible victims were located and shared their stories with police.
Abernathy most recently served as the youth pastor at Langston Baptist Church, but resigned from the position following the allegations, the report states. While Abernathy was not on staff at the church during the alleged abuse, he was “an active member” of the church, the pastor confirms.
The victims, who are now adults, were friends with Abernathy’s step-daughter and were often at his home. According to the pastor, the victims told him Abernathy would put his hands down their pants, grab their breasts, and pull them onto his lap.
The pastor told police that the two victims shared stories of how Abernathy would abuse them when they visited his home. The first victim said Abernathy reached into her pants and groped her while she was sitting on the couch, and the second victim claimed Abernathy came into the room where she was sleeping and “cuddled up to her,” grabbing her breast and groping her under her clothes.
When the pastor confronted Abernathy, the suspect denied the allegations, the report states. The victims at the time, according to police reports, were 14, 15, 12, and 14-years-old.
A July 11 interview with a third victim revealed the girl was in 7th or 8th grade and was spending time in Abernathy’s home to visit his stepdaughter. She was lying in a hammock in the backyard when Abernathy approached her, put his hand down her shirt and under her bra and then made her promise not to tell anyone, according to the police report.
The victim says she told her parents and when Abernathy was confronted, he denied doing anything wrong, claiming it was an accident.
Police also interviewed a fourth victim, who stated Abernathy came into the bedroom where she was sleeping while visiting his stepdaughter and put his hand down her pants. The report states she was in 8th or 9th grade at the time.
Abernathy is charged with three counts of assault and battery second degree and two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor third degree. Abernathy was arrested Wednesday, and at the time of this posting, remains in jail.