Ohio Pastor Anthony Haynes found guilty of child sex trafficking, more

On March 28, a jury of his peers found a Toledo, Ohio, pastor guilty of sex trafficking of a minor and other crimes against children. Anthony Haynes, 40, was found guilty of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking, child exploitation and obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation.

Two other pastors -Kenneth Butler and Cordell Jenkins – previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the sex trafficking conspiracy involving minors.

Haynes, Butler and Jenkins sexually assaulted a juvenile girl beginning in 2014.  The rapes continued through 2017.

The girl, who was in Haynes’ custody, was 14 when the sexual assaults began. Some of those assaults took place at Greater Life Christian Center in Toledo, where Haynes was pastor at the time. Haynes used his cellular telephone to record these sexual assaults.

The 40-year-old former minister denied having sex with the girl and testified she tried to manipulate him, saying “I’m not a pervert.”

The now 19-year-old woman testified Haynes later introduced her to two other pastors. The church could not be reached for comment.  ~ NBC News

Haynes routinely gave the victim money after the acts and told her not to say anything. He told her that if she said anything, it would ruin his family and his church, according to court documents.

Haynes also facilitated the victim being sexually exploited by other men, including Jenkins, according to trial testimony and court documents.

Jenkins repeatedly sexually exploited the minor at his home on Barrington Drive, at his office at Abundant Life Ministries and at a motel in Toledo. He paid her and referred to the payment as “hush money.” He often recorded these interactions with his cellular telephone, according to court documents.

Jenkins also caused another juvenile girl to engage in commercial sex acts in March 2017, according to court documents.

Butler also caused another juvenile girl to engage in commercial sex acts from 2015 through 2017, according to court documents.

Haynes is scheduled to be sentenced June 17.

(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio)

~ Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter