The Elmore County Sheriff is now investigating a third accusation of sexual abuse against the pastor of Wetumpka's Calvary Baptist Church. He was arrested sunday afternoon at his church after the families of two eight year old girls filed charges against him.
Garret Dykes made his first court appearance Tuesday morning. About a half dozen other inmates also made their first appearance in court Tuesday morning and Dykes got there early before the others, sat in court calmly, chatting with the sheriff and the Assistant District Attorney. He didn't seem nervous or disturbed at all. When it was his time to go before the judge, Dykes said he understood the seven charges against him for sexual abuse and sodomy as well as production charges for making a video tape of the incidents. He could face up to life in prison, if convicted.
Dykes' church members say they are still in shock. They describe him as articulate and personable with an out going personality and they don't know what they should have done differently. John Pritchett is the Church Administrator. He says, "We did a background check on this man. We did a credit check on this man. Checked his references. Our search committee interviewed him, talked with church members of his former church and I don't know what else you can do to check some out."
The sheriff says he's investigating a report from a third family that says their 10-year-old daughter was also allegedly abused by Garrett Dykes. The District Attorney Randall Houston says there maybe other victims.