Photo: Baltimore County Police Department
A former Maryland youth pastor is accused of sexually abusing at least six teenagers, NBC News reports.
Thomas Pinkerton Jr., 52, who was commonly known as 'Pastor Tommy,' faces 24 felony and misdemeanor counts following accusations that he sexually abused six teens from 2006 to 2010 while working at Central Christian Church in Baltimore County and is being held without bond. The former pastor was extradited from his home state of Georgia back to Maryland and pleaded not guilty, his attorney, Justin Hollimon, confirmed to NBC News.
Pinkerton is accused of inappropriately touching and kissing six teens between the ages of 13 to 19 while serving as a youth pastor at the Assemblies of God church. A seventh man reported abuse allegedly committed by Pinkerton in Georgia, which is being referred to local authorities, and detectives believe there could be even more victims.
Pinkerton, who has recently worked as a traveling evangelist, was "completely shocked" by the charges, according to Hollimon.
“He is a pastor. He gave his life to the community, worked for the community,” Hollimon said, confirming that he filed a motion Monday morning seeking another bond hearing for Pinkerton it was previously denied last week. “He’s anxiously waiting his day in court.”
Pinkerton's case is the latest incident of alleged child sex abuse allegations facing the Assemblies of God, the world's largest Pentecostal denomination. NBC News included Pinkerton's arrest in its ongoing 'Pastors and Prey' series investigating sex abuse allegations within the church, having already published an investigation examining how an Assemblies of God college ministry guided hundreds of students to the home of convicted sex offender Daniel Savala, who was once deemed to be "the holiest man alive."