WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | NC pastor charged with sexually exploiting food bank customers

NC pastor charged with sexually exploiting food bank customers

BESSEMER CITY, NC (WBTV) -  A North Carolina pastor faces several charges of sexually battery for taking advantage of women who came to his church’s food bank for help, police say.

Harley Michael Keough is a pastor at King James Baptist Church in Bessemer City, NC. Detectives say the incidents happened over a three-year period from September 2006 to October 2009.

But Keough’s members said Friday the charges are false and that they stand by him.

"I have never, ever, ever seen him touch anybody,” said one long time member who didn’t want to give her name. “He ain't never touch me." 

Another member who wanted to remain anonymous said, "I'll stand up in any court and say they're lying."

A woman who called herself Stephanie said she’d been to the food bank before, and said Keough was simply affectionate and never inappropriate.

"He's hugged me and things like that,” Stephanie said. “I've been over here alone and I've also been here with my husband and he's never shown me anything but kindness. I'm shocked."

But one man said he believes the accusations because Keough victimized his ex-girlfriend.

"He took my girlfriend in that church right there and pulled his wee-wee out in front of her," said Andy Dawson.

Dawson acknowledged the good work the church has done, but says its members refuse to see the truth.

"He's got the people thinking he's God's gift to the world," said Dawson. "He's got these people snowed."

Members say the allegations could jeopardize the work they do for the community.

"We feed families and all these women are gonna get us to close down this food bank and all is these people are gonna go hungry because they want to tell lies on our pastor," said a member who didn’t want to give her name.

Keough was being held in the Gaston County jail under $50,000 bond, but members said they raised the money to bail him out.

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