A minister in Texas is facing charges for allegedly providing counseling and drugs to an underage girl to “groom” her for sexual relations with him.
45-year-old Brian Keith Pounds is the head minister at the First Assembly of God Church, and a chaplain at Tyson Foods, both in Vernon, Texas. He has reportedly worked with the church for nearly six years.
Pounds was reportedly giving counseling services to a 15-year-old girl in need of assistance.
The pastor set up the young woman with a job, and he reportedly provided personal counseling sessions to her at the church.
In addition to the assistance, Pounds allegedly gave methamphetamine to the teenager.
At the beginning of July, the teen’s mother reported that she could not find her daughter.
When Pounds was tracked down, he was allegedly at a nearby motel.
An officer investigated the reason for the man’s presence and alleged that the pastor had rented a room at the establishment, using First Assembly of God Church as the identity of the renter.
Pounds was questioned about the room, and the man reportedly said that he was assisting a person in need.
The young woman was not found on the property, but a short while later, her mother ran into her at Walmart.
Her mom took her to the police station, and the girl gave the authorities a statement about her connection to Pounds.
According to reports, the teenager said Pounds counseled her and her family approximately a month ago. The girl claimed that since the initial session, Pounds had been having sex with her and giving her methamphetamine.
The teen was taken to a local hospital, where the police reported that she had “medical complications from smoking methamphetamine.”
Pounds denied having sex with the teenager, but he was placed under arrest for the allegations.
On July 16, he was incarcerated in the Wichita County Jail on a $200,000 bond. Pounds is facing charges for felony sexual assault of a child.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a sexual offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.