The pastor of a southeastern Illinois church pleaded guilty Jan. 27 to two counts of criminal sexual assault involving a teenage girl. Leslie Mason, 35, former pastor of Olney Southern Baptist Church, struck a deal with prosecutors where he pleaded guilty to the two class one felonies in exchange for the dismissal of eight remaining counts, which included charges that he had sex with another teenage girl attending his church.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for March 17. Mason faces a prison term for four to 30 years and a fine of up to $5,000. Under Illinois law, he will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, a legal advocate said.
Mason had been pastor of Olney since 1994. Church members unanimously agreed to dismiss him during a special meeting in October 2001, according to a copy of the church’s minutes on file in the Richland County Circuit Clerk’s office.
The minutes say Mason admitted his guilt to church deacons.
A motion from the deacon body and the personnel committee said Mason should be dismissed because he used “a most trusted position in our church to pursue and manipulate a 13-year-old girl for sexual gratification.”
(Associated Baptist Press)
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