Church restores pastor after guilty verdict

By Michael Edwards
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post
Their spirits are receptive and willing, but their flesh is growing weary.
The members of New Generation Church, 1173 Essex Avenue, as well as its leader Rev. Maurice L. Jackson, have grown tired of answering to the allegation that Jackson engaged in sex with minors.
" It's a misconception that just because we are standing behind Pastor Jackson [it] means that we believe he is sinless and is perfect," said an unnamed parishioner. "We as believers know we are all sinners saved by grace. However, there is a difference in being one who sins and one who is capable of committing such a heinous crime. I personally do not believe Pastor Jackson committed those crimes, but what I believe and what others believe is not what will matter in the end. God has the very last say so."
In September 2006, a Franklin County Common Pleas Court jury found Jackson guilty of two felony counts of gross sexual imposition and one felony count of corruption of a minor. The charges involve two girls, one a relative and the other a daughter of Meishawna King, a former member of his congregation.
Specifically, based on jury testimonies, Jackson had been accused of having sexual contact about nine years ago with a girl who then was 7 or 8 and engaging in sex about eight years ago with a relative who then was about 14.
Jackson was 22 when the latter offense was said to have occurred.
After two days of deliberation, the 12-member jury returned the three guilty verdicts. Jackson faced up to 11 and a half years for the convictions.
Judge Charles A. Schneider ordered Jackson to jail for six months, probation and the requirement that he must register with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office as a sexual offender. Meanwhile, several hundred Jackson supporters that crowded the courtroom looked on in disbelief. As a sexually-oriented offender, Jackson must report his address for 10 years and not live near a school.
After completing the six-month sentence earlier this year, Jackson was eventually restored by the congregation as pastor.
" I declared to you that our pastor would be back and stand among us this week," New Generation's assistant pastor Richard Hannah reportedly told the cheering congregation before Jackson ran up and joined him in the pulpit during a spring Sunday morning service.
Jackson, a rather soft-spoken man when not in the pulpit, would not directly comment on the matter. Recent attempts by the Columbus Post to reach Jackson and other church leaders were unsuccessful.
During the trial, the defense team argued that charges had been built on "lies and revenge" because Jackson had removed the older girl from the church's praise team. No physical evidence was presented in the trial so it boiled down to a matter of credibility of the defendant and his accusers, said defense attorney Christopher Cooper. He and Crysta Renee Pennington had represented the pastor. County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien agreed that it came down tocredibility and, "in this case, the jury sided with the victims."
Contacted recently, Pennington said she has no additional comment regarding the case and deferred to attorney Byron L. Potts.
Potts represented Jackson at a probation revocation hearing on Sept 5, 2007.
Citing confidentiality, Potts would not speak in great length about the matter. "The reasons for the revocation hearing were minor – nothing could not have been easily explained or mitigated through an administrative review," said Potts. Court officials alleged that Jackson had not completed the sexual offender class, paid full restitution or completed a required urine test.
Potts believes that if this wasn't such a high profile case, an administrative review would have been sufficient. "I stand in support of Jackson and believe that once this matter is fully behind him, he can and will continue to be the dynamic man of God that he is," said Potts.
Jackson's three-year probation was extended.
Also extended are unanswered questions by many; primarily, "Why did it take more than seven years for the victims to come forward?"
In a prior interview with the Columbus Post, King said because of Jackson's role in the community, her daughter was too scared to come forward. "There are many victims. People are afraid to come forward because they know everyone will turn against them... Isn't this what has happened?" said King.
At press time, the Post was unable to locate King for additional comment.

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