Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Church of God senior pastor pleads guilty to possessing over 100 child porn images, gets 8-year sentence
Christian Post ^ | February 21, 2025 | staff

Posted on 02/25/2025 5:37:25 AM PST by Morgana

A former Church of God senior pastor in Tennessee has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse images on his laptop.

Richard Lee Sentell of the defunct Cornerstone Church of God in Cleveland entered a guilty plea Friday to sexual exploitation of a minor. He received an eight-year sentence with the Tennessee Department of Corrections, according to the Tenth Judicial District Attorney General's office. He is not eligible for parole.

Sentell was arrested in December 2023 and subsequently suspended from all ministerial activities by the Tennessee Church of God, pending the outcome of his case.

In a statement to The Christian Post, The Church of God Tennessee State Office stated that Sentell's ministerial credentials have been "permanently revoked" as a result of this disposition. The denomination added that Cornerstone Church of God in Cleveland was "discontinued" on Sept. 18, 2023, and no longer exists.

"For numerous months, Richard Lee Sentell has not been active as a Church of God minister," the statement assured. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in this matter."

In the summer of 2023, the Cleveland Police Department received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a user in the area uploaded two images of child sex abuse material to a website called Binglmage, an AI tool that enables users to upload photos so they can search for similar photos.

Investigating the case, Detective Matthew Landolt found that uploads originated from the home of Sentell and his wife.

After detectives searched the property, they found “a suspicious laptop” that was “wedged between a mattress and a box spring in a downstairs bedroom in the residence.” The investigators found 124 images of child sexual abuse material, most of which “depicted prepubescent children being sexually assaulted.”

“Data on the laptop indicated that Richard Lee Sentell was the owner and user of the laptop,” the statement from the Tenth Judicial District stated. “Additionally, data on the laptop indicated that Mr. Sentell had searched for and otherwise sought out child sexual abuse material for many months, typically late at night or early in the morning.”

T. Wayne Dority, the administrative bishop of the Tennessee Church of God, told WTVC after Sentell's arrest that Cornerstone Church of God had been previously suspended. The church had rented space at the Church of God Jerusalem Acres for Sunday services for three years after selling the church building years prior.


TOPICS: Other Christian
KEYWORDS: childabuse; church; churchofgod; richardleesentell; tennessee
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

1 posted on 02/25/2025 5:37:25 AM PST by Morgana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Morgana

Our churches need to do better in getting people to serve within their limitations, rather than be prideful and rise up beyond their abilities.


2 posted on 02/25/2025 5:41:39 AM PST by Jonty30 (Groundhogs don't falsify their predictions for grant money, whereas climate scientists do. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

“Our churches need to do better in getting people to serve within their limitations, rather than be prideful and rise up beyond their abilities.”

You evidently think that is profound, but it is nonsense.

Having 100 child porn images has nothing whatever to do with abilities. It has to do with a degenerate mind.


3 posted on 02/25/2025 5:45:01 AM PST by odawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: odawg

I’m not trying to be clever or profound, but realist. You’re resistance to sin is, in part, you’re willingness to put yourself exposed to sin.

If you avoid putting yourself in position, where you can be tempted, you’re less likely to fall into sin.

I’m not saying that is the complete battle, but that is certainly part of it. It follows Christ advise that it is better to lose your hand than to lose your salvation for the sake of your hand.


4 posted on 02/25/2025 5:48:22 AM PST by Jonty30 (Groundhogs don't falsify their predictions for grant money, whereas climate scientists do. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

He won’t be well liked in prison......................


5 posted on 02/25/2025 5:53:48 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

“If you avoid putting yourself in position, where you can be tempted, you’re less likely to fall into sin.”

A diabetic working in a doughnut shop comes to mind.


6 posted on 02/25/2025 6:21:53 AM PST by Not_Who_U_Think (`-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Not_Who_U_Think

If you have sexual sins, you have to keep your computer use public or, at least, rented like at a library.


7 posted on 02/25/2025 6:23:41 AM PST by Jonty30 (Groundhogs don't falsify their predictions for grant money, whereas climate scientists do. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Not_Who_U_Think

I agree. Don’t become gymnast coach or teacher if you could get in trouble
You have to be willing to limit your career choices for your protection and those that you might be tempted by.


8 posted on 02/25/2025 6:29:08 AM PST by Jonty30 (Groundhogs don't falsify their predictions for grant money, whereas climate scientists do. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

Wait, what? Not a Catholic priest? How can that be?


9 posted on 02/25/2025 6:38:02 AM PST by Mastador1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

Proves once again what an absolute farce organized religion is.

EVERY institution created by man eventually becomes corrupt.


10 posted on 02/25/2025 7:00:12 AM PST by Hammerhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hammerhead

The Left has infiltrated all of the organized religions.


11 posted on 02/25/2025 7:01:17 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Its man’s nature.

Man is naturally corrupt.

Find peace and ‘religion’ one on one with God and a close circle of friends.

Live a life of example.

Simple.


12 posted on 02/25/2025 7:02:29 AM PST by Hammerhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Hammerhead

Proves once again what an absolute farce organized religion is.

EVERY institution created by man eventually becomes corrupt.


Which is why the New Covenant is a personal relationship with God. Being born again, a requirement, and teaching through the Word and Spirit.

Folks, God clearly defines the New Covenant in the OT and NT. Look it up and reflect. It explains a lot of things.

But a reminder that a personal relationship with God is a wild ride, ask the prophets, Job, Disciples others. Expect trouble.

To be clear, an institutional relationship is much “safer” from a worldly perspective.


13 posted on 02/25/2025 7:14:11 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

“Church of God senior pastor pleads guilty to possessing over 100 child porn images, gets 8-year sentence”

ORGANIZED RELIGION. STAY AWAY!

Jesus, Holy Spirit, and your bible is all you need. In fact, you are so much better off with those.


14 posted on 02/25/2025 7:41:49 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: faucetman
ORGANIZED RELIGION. STAY AWAY! Jesus, Holy Spirit, and your bible is all you need. In fact, you are so much better off with those.

And yet He said in His word, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together..."

The error is again as is so often the case with the younger folks these days, with group identity. I reject all forms of group identity including professional group identity. In this case the man is a pastor, which has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with me, who am also a pastor. And it sure has nothing whatsoever to do with any religious organization whatsoever including the one affected. They fired him they closed the place down, punishing the innocent with the guilty, and you, faucetman want to include the entirety of organized religion in his guilt. It is completely invalid.

Same with cops. Quit being surprised when some cop is caught in a crime. Same with teachers. Why are you so shocked when a teacher is immoral with a student? Do you think that there is some process by which the school, or the police department, or the church seeks out only the best and hires them to work for them?

And listen to your own heart as you read my comment. You DO NOT CARE what I think right? And yet you believe that I will care what you think. It is completely incongruous. AVOID THOSE WHO CRITICISE ORGANISED RELIGION! Their illogical emotions ruin everything.

See what I mean?

Kind and Good to You! BrianD

15 posted on 02/25/2025 11:51:10 AM PST by BDParrish (God called, He said He'd take you back!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

16 posted on 02/25/2025 1:05:24 PM PST by Albion Wilde (“Did you ever meet a woke person that’s happy? There’s no such thing.” —Donald J. Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

And it’s better to say “your” instead of “you’re” when you mean the possessive form “your”, and not the compound subject/verb “you’re.”

As for the rest of your post, balderdash. A child-attracted person should not ever be in any child-ministering position.


17 posted on 02/25/2025 1:10:32 PM PST by Albion Wilde (“Did you ever meet a woke person that’s happy? There’s no such thing.” —Donald J. Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Albion Wilde

As I said, if you have a weakness, you should take pro-action and not do that as a job. Do another job in order to stay away from being tempted.

I also mentioned using your computer in public only or rent computer time. Don’t do your computer in a private fashion if you are prone to sexual sin.


18 posted on 02/25/2025 1:21:36 PM PST by Jonty30 (Groundhogs don't falsify their predictions for grant money, whereas climate scientists do. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Albion Wilde

As far as your or you’re goes, I was using my phone.


19 posted on 02/25/2025 1:23:57 PM PST by Jonty30 (Groundhogs don't falsify their predictions for grant money, whereas climate scientists do. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Morgana
Toooooo bad some people are against the death penalty.. Tooo many in religious jobs are just plain against the Heavenly Father.
20 posted on 02/25/2025 1:28:05 PM PST by Just mythoughts (Psalm 2. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson