DeKalb County Baptist Preacher Arrested AGAIN On Sex Abuse Charges

Billy Masters, 66, was reportedly a preacher at Harvest Baptist Church in
Kilpatrick

WHNT NEWS 19

May 22, 2009

DEKALB COUNTY - A 66-year-old man in DeKalb County is charged with
first-degree sexual abuse following an alleged incident involving a
12-year-old boy.

Pastor Billy Masters, of Aroney, is a preacher at Harvest Baptist Church in
the Kilpatrick area. The boy was a member of the church congregation.

This isn't the first time Pastor Masters has been in trouble with the law
for sex charges involving children. He was convicted in 2001 of sodomy.

In his current arrest, DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris says someone
reported an incident to Sheriff's Investigator Mary Waters in January 2009.
Waters checked in to the matter, and searched Pastor Masters' home about a
month ago, seizing Masters' computer. However, it appeared the hard drive on
the computer had recently been removed and a new drive installed.

A warrant for pastor Masters' arrest was issued Friday afternoon, and
deputies arrested him at his home. He is being held in the DeKalb County
Detention Center without bond.

In 2001, WHNT NEWS 19 reported that Pastor Masters was convicted of sodomy
against three male victims. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sodomy and
one count of sexual abuse. Judge David Rains sentenced Masters to 15 years
for each sodomy charge and 10 years for the sexual abuse count. The
sentences were to run concurrently. pastor Masters was also ordered to pay
$30,000 in restitution to each of the victims.

Pastor Masters served time in prison, but was released in 2007. He had a
parole hearing, and no one showed up to speak out against his early release.

Sheriff Harris says pastor Masters registered with the DeKalb County
Sheriff's Department, and was up to date on his registration at the time of
Friday's arrest.

Pastor Masters will also face charges related to violating his parole from
the earlier conviction.

http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-billy-masters-sex-abuse-charges-52209,0,768975
2.story




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