SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – A Suffolk minister who pleaded guilty to 11 sexual assault charges earlier this year will spend 4 1/2 years behind bars. The victim in the case is a 17-year-old girl.
55-year-old Anthony McClain was facing 15 counts of aggravated sexual battery, five counts of indecent liberties with a child, and six counts of incest, but because he entered a guilty plea for 11 of the charges, prosecutors decided not to pursue the additional ones. The judge sentenced him to 41 years with all but four years and six months suspended. Upon release he will be on supervised probation for 15 years and good behavior for 41 years. The Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office also said McClain cannot have contact with the victim, unless she reaches out to him first.
Court documents say the abuse began in April 2015 and ended August 4, 2015 when police were called to McClain’s house. McClain told police the girl initiated the sexual relationship and that it was consensual, but the victim said it was a forced relationship.
According to testimony during the sentencing, McClain and his wife fostered and raised more than 160 children in Connecticut and Virginia – and adopted several of them.
McClain is listed as the pastor of “Something God Made Ministries Community Center Inc” on the organization’s website.
