Pastor Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teen

A pastor in New Haven, Connecticut, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old member of his church has been arrested and admitted to sexual encounters with the girl, according to police. 

Sixty-nine-year-old Walter Williams, of Northford, is the pastor of Walk of Faith Church of Christ on Fairmont Avenue in New Haven, and he’s accused of having as many as six sexual encounters between July 2015 and April 2016 with a teen who belongs to the church and is a member of its choir. 

Police said they started investigating when the girl’s mother found messages on her daughter’s phone and learned of the relationship. 

She said she saw a graphically disturbing Facebook message from Williams to her daughter and was so upset she couldn’t continue reading it. When the teen came home and her mother questioned her, the teen was forthcoming and spoke about her relationship with Williams, police said. 

The interactions between the teen and Williams ranged from touching to intercourse, according to police. 

When a detective with the Special Victims Unit met with the victim, she described the six encounters in detail, according to police. 

They happened at Williams’ Northford home, at the church and while the victim accompanied him to collect rent from a tenant, police said. However, the property was empty. 

When police interviewed Williams, he admitted to “five or six” sexual encounters with the victim, according to police. 

He was arrested and has been charged with sexual assault in the fourth degree, five counts of sexual assault in the second degree and three counts of risk of injury to a minor. 

Williams was held Monday night on $250,000 bond and was arraigned this morning. He's due back in court on July 20. It’s not clear if he has an attorney.

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