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.
Our churches need to do better in getting people to serve within their limitations, rather than be prideful and rise up beyond their abilities.
“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.
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.
He won’t be well liked in prison......................
“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.
If you have sexual sins, you have to keep your computer use public or, at least, rented like at a library.
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.
Wait, what? Not a Catholic priest? How can that be?
Proves once again what an absolute farce organized religion is.
EVERY institution created by man eventually becomes corrupt.
The Left has infiltrated all of the organized religions.
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.
Proves once again what an absolute farce organized religion is.
EVERY institution created by man eventually becomes corrupt.
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.
“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.
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
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.
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.
As far as your or you’re goes, I was using my phone.
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