Baptist Pastor Indicted On Charges Of Sex With A High School Student

As Pope Benedict XVI publically shows his disgrace for the sex scandals associated with the church, a 33-year-old Baptist pastor from Palestine, Texas is indicted for having sex with a high school student. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Michael Deshone Thompson, the pastor of St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Elkhart, Texas for "several years", was indicted on six counts associated to charges that he was having an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl. District Attorney, Doug Lowe told the local paper that Thompson was employed as a custodian for Westwood High School, and he violated terms of his employment under Texas Law

Under Texas law, improper relationship occurs when “an employee of a public or private primary or secondary school...engages in sexual contact, sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with a person who is enrolled in a public or private primary or secondary school at which the employee works and who is not the employee’s spouse.”

Of the three alleged incidents of sexual behavior, the most recent in early 2007 occured after the student turned 17-years-old. Lowe also believes the pair might have had a church affilliation. Thompson's bond was originally set at $250,000 USD but was later reduced to $15,000. He was freed on bail Friday, following defense testimony from two other preachers and his wife. It is said that Thompson is still preaching at St. James. Michael Deshone Thompson is married and has three children.