Friday, Jun. 19, 2009

Ex-youth minister arrested on lewd act charge

A former youth minister at a West Columbia church as been arrested and charged in a sex crimes case involving three victims.

William Ralph Wilson III, 30, of Irvin Jumper Road, Gaston, is the former youth minister at Chapel of Redemption Church, 5181 Platt Springs Road. He was arrested Thursday and charged with three counts of committing a lewd act on a minor under the age of 16, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said.

Wilson also has been charged with three counts of disseminating harmful materials or exhibiting harmful performance to a minor.

Wilson is at the Lexington County Detention Center waiting, where bail was set at $90,000 on Friday afternoon.

Three victims made complaints about Wilson to the department this week. The charges were made after they and Wilson made statements to investigators and a search was conducted of Wilson's home.

Investigators accuse Wilson of illegal physical contact with the victims and of exposing victims to sexually explicit materials starting in December 2007, the department said. All of the suspected illegal activities occurred at Wilson's home, department spokesman Maj. George Brothers said. The victims had attended Chapel of Redemption Church.

Wilson's computers are being examined by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division for additional evidence.

Additional charges could follow as the investigation continues.

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