Former Youth Pastor Arrested After Allegedly Sexually Abusing At Least 6 Teens

This article is portion of “Pastors and Prey,” a bid investigating activity maltreatment allegations successful nan Assemblies of God.

Thomas Pinkerton Jr. utilized to show children successful his younker group successful Maryland that it was normal for a pastor to buss boys connected nan lips, because that’s really Jesus greeted his disciples, according to an apprehension warrant made nationalist past week.

Kissing was conscionable nan beginning, respective men from Pinkerton’s erstwhile younker group told police.

Pinkerton, 52, a younker curate known arsenic Pastor Tommy, is being held without enslaved pursuing accusations that he sexually abused six teens from 2006 to 2010 while moving astatine Central Christian Church, an Assemblies of God religion successful Baltimore County. He was extradited from his location authorities of Georgia to Maryland past Wednesday to look 24 felony and misdemeanor counts successful Baltimore County. His attorney, Justin Hollimon, said he pleaded not guilty.

An apprehension warrant said nan alleged maltreatment included inappropriate rubbing and kissing of six teenagers successful Maryland, who ranged successful property from 13 to 19. The warrant said nan alleged maltreatment happened astatine nan religion and astatine Pinkerton’s erstwhile location successful Maryland. A seventh man reported maltreatment by Pinkerton successful Georgia, according to nan warrant, and that study was referred to authorities there, officials successful Baltimore County said.

Detectives believe location whitethorn beryllium more victims and person asked anyone pinch accusation to travel forward.

Pinkerton, who has worked arsenic a walking evangelist successful caller years, was “completely shocked” by nan charges, his lawyer said Monday.

“He is simply a pastor. He gave his life to nan community, worked for nan community,” Hollimon said, adding that he revenge a mobility Monday greeting seeking different enslaved proceeding for Pinkerton aft a judge denied his merchandise past week. “He’s anxiously waiting his time successful court.”

Pinkerton’s apprehension comes arsenic nan Assemblies of God, nan world’s largest Pentecostal denomination, pinch astir 3 cardinal members crossed 13,000 churches successful nan United States, is grappling pinch a drawstring of kid activity maltreatment allegations.

As portion of an ongoing investigation into nan denomination’s handling of maltreatment claims, NBC News published an investigation past week based connected interviews, emails, tribunal filings and constabulary reports that examined really an Assemblies of God college ministry guided hundreds of students to nan location of Daniel Savala, a convicted activity offender lauded by immoderate arsenic “the holiest man alive.” Days later, Assemblies of God leaders addressed nan rumor of activity maltreatment successful nan denomination during a biennial gathering successful Orlando, defending their handling of nan Savala lawsuit while besides pledging to make changes to forestall akin abuses successful nan future.

Do you person a communicative to stock astir nan Assemblies of God’s handling of activity maltreatment allegations? Email newsman Mike Hixenbaugh.

According to Pinkerton’s apprehension warrant, detectives started investigating him aft nan 7 men came guardant past fall. The men alleged that erstwhile they were successful their teens, Pinkerton would springiness them massages and swipe their penises; respective said Pinkerton would shake hands them pinch what he referred to arsenic a “heavenly kiss” aliases “brotherly kiss” connected nan lips, likening this to Jesus. The men said Pinkerton called them his “favorites” and referred to himself arsenic a “spiritual father” to them.

Assemblies of God officials distanced themselves from Pinkerton connected Monday, telling NBC News that, though Pinkerton worked astatine an Assemblies of God church, he was ne'er formally credentialed arsenic a curate pinch nan denomination.

“We are truthful saddened to perceive of this report, and are profoundly concerned whenever reports for illustration this travel out,” said Benjamin Rainey Jr., secretary-treasurer of nan Assemblies of God location agency that oversees nan three-state region that includes Maryland.

Pinkerton’s erstwhile religion successful Maryland did not return a telephone telephone Monday. In a connection posted past week connected its website, Central Christian said Pinkerton served connected its unit much than 15 years agone and hasn’t been affiliated pinch nan religion since he near to commencement his ain ministry. It besides said that since nan alleged maltreatment was reported to rule enforcement, further individuals “have travel guardant pinch akin accounts,” including immoderate successful different states.

“There is perfectly nary spot for maltreatment — ever — successful nan church,” Central Christian’s lead pastor, Larry Kirk, said successful nan statement.

In nan years since nan alleged maltreatment occurred, Pinkerton has preached successful astatine slightest six different states, NBC News found, and according to his ministry website, he has evangelized successful South America, Europe and Asia.

Pinkerton’s lawyer said Monday that his customer was not facing charges successful immoderate authorities different than Maryland.

One religion wherever he preached, nan New Chapel successful Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is not an Assemblies of God church, posted connected its website complete nan play that it had trim ties pinch Pinkerton earlier he was arrested.

“We were heartbroken to perceive of these superior allegations that occurred successful Baltimore, Maryland astir 20 years ago, and communicated nan business to our religion family aft severing each ties pinch nan accused respective months back. Our prayers and continued practice are toward justness for nan victims,” New Chapel’s connection said.

Authorities successful Maryland and Georgia said Baltimore County constabulary obtained an apprehension warrant successful precocious June for Pinkerton. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office successful Georgia said it past arrested him astatine a postulation extremity successful July earlier he was extradited to Maryland past week.

Pinkerton has a preliminary tribunal proceeding scheduled for Sept. 5.