Former Warsaw pastor pleads guilty to child sex crimes
A former pastor of the Victory Baptist Church in Warsaw has pleaded guilty to eight child sex crimes.
During a plea hearing the afternoon of Monday, June 16, Albert Wharton entered an Alford plea for eight charges related to indecent liberties with a child and aggravated sexual assault.
On Dec. 8, 2023, Wharton was arrested in South Carolina by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and South Carolina’s Pickens County Sheriff’s Department. He was charged with 22 felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child under the age of 13 while in a custodial position and eight felony counts of aggravated sexual assault.
The church leader was ultimately charged with a total of 30 felony charges in 2023 for crimes committed between 1981 and 1997.
After Wharton pleaded guilty Monday afternoon, Richmond County Commonwealth’s Attorney Elizabeth Trible announced the remaining charges were nolle prosequi — meaning officials are declining to prosecute.
Wharton entered an Alford plea. This means that, per his plea agreement, he is maintaining his innocence while recognizing the Commonwealth’s evidence could find him guilty if this case were sent to trial.
https://www.wric.com/news/taking-action/former-warsaw-pastor-child-sex-crimes-plea-hearing/
Not a trans person, not a drag queen---a PASTOR, a BAPTIST MINISTER.
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