Former Megachurch Pastor Caught in Florida After Child Sex Abuse Indictment in Massachusetts
Share this @internewscast.com

A former pastor of a Baltimore megachurch indicted earlier this year on child sex abuse charges was captured this week in Florida.

Eric Anderson, 80, is currently being detained without the possibility of bail in Manatee County. He is contesting his extradition to Massachusetts, where the Greater Grace World Outreach church, the site of the alleged abuse, was located at the time. This information was reported by the Baltimore Banner.

Anderson had been residing in Virginia with his son, Jesse Anderson, prior to his arrest in Florida. Jesse was previously found guilty of abusing a boy at the same church but did not serve a prison sentence. Massachusetts State Police detectives were able to locate Eric Anderson using license plate reader technology, the Banner reported.

He faces two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

An indictment was issued four months ago following a Banner investigation that uncovered many years of sexual abuse and concealment at the church, formerly called The Bible Speaks. The article featured accounts from accuser Erika Slater, who alleged multiple abuse incidents by Anderson in the spring of 1980, when she was a first grader and he was the school principal.

After the Banner’s investigative series was released, Slater traveled to Massachusetts to lodge a police report last summer. She expressed her relief to the Banner that Anderson is being held without the option of bail.

While the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office has not verified that the charges against Anderson directly stem from Slater’s report, they did confirm that the alleged incidents occurred in 1980, as reported by WJZ.

Anderson did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment, but his wife had previously said he called the allegations “total garbage.”

After the Banner’s series was published, the church initiated an “independent investigation” into the allegations. They issued a statement urging anyone with relevant information regarding Anderson to contact the church or the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, according to their update.

According to MinistryWatch, the church previously revoked the credentials of two of its pastors in April as a result of the investigations.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Man Assaults Elderly Landlord with Wooden Plank in Dispute Over Money

Background: The AdventHealth hospital in Parker, Colorado, where the victim was taken…

Intoxicated motorist who hit mother and daughter receives sentencing

Inset: Laticha Liz Bracero, left, and Alyssa Angel Cordova (Woodlawn Funeral Home).…

Remains of 12-Year-Old Girl Found in Bin at Abandoned House; Deceased for a Year

Authorities in Connecticut have apprehended a mother, her partner, and the aunt…

Woman Sentenced for Killing, Dismembering, and Burning Body

Inset, left to right: Marisa J. Rodriguez and Michael Maisner (WJET/WFXP). Background:…

Daycare Employee Accused of Mistreating Disabled Child, Age 11

Inset: Kaitlyn Pitzer (Hernando County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The daycare center where…

Teenager playing video games tragically hit by random bullet: Police

Inset: Duwan Morgan (GoFundMe). Background: St. Louis County police investigate a shooting…

Police Chase in Melbourne’s North Leads to Seizure of Drugs and Ammunition

Police have charged two men and seized drugs and ammunition after a…

Man Reportedly Calls Emergency Services Crying After Ex-Partner’s Death

A man who denies killing his former partner during a violent argument…

Georgia Man Accidentally Shoots Girlfriend in Head While Handling Gun

A 19-year-old Georgia woman is dead after her boyfriend shot her in…

Kentucky Elementary School Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of 10-Year-Old Girl

A Kentucky teacher is facing charges after police say he sexually abused…

Father Detained After Alleging Infant Son Was Abducted in Armed Robbery

Georgia police said on Monday that the father of a missing 6-month-old…

Individual Held Captive in Storage Container and Abused by Former Member of Religious Group

Early one frosty Friday morning, Samantha Stites hears the creak of wood…