CLINTON, Miss. — John Langworthy, 50, former associate pastor of music and ministries at Morrison Heights Baptist Church, Clinton, Miss., pleaded guilty in Hinds County Circuit Court to five of eight felony counts of gratification of lust against young boys in the early 1980s. He was sentenced to 10 years of a suspended sentence on each count for a total of 50 years.
As part of his agreement, Langworthy will be on five years of supervised probation, cannot have contact with any of his victims and must register as a sex offender.
Langworthy was investigated by police after a video was posted online of him confessing to members of Morrison Heights Baptist in August 2011 that he “had sexual indiscretions with younger males” prior to coming to Clinton 22 years earlier. Afterward six men came forward claiming they were sexually abused by Langworthy as children in the early 1980s.
Two of his victims testified Jan. 22 about the impact of Langworthy’s actions on their lives. One of the two said after 30 years, some people say it is time that they forgive and forget. “In some ways that is true,” the victim’s impact statement read. “We must forgive, and I want you to know, John, that I did a long time ago. Why we are here is not because of vengeance or retribution. It is not to get even or get payback. It is simply about bringing the darkness to the light.” The young man said he also wanted Langworthy to know he considers himself not a “victim” but rather a “survivor by the grace of God” of sexual abuse.
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