WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Columbia pastor accused of rape

Columbia pastor accused of rape

(Columbia) March 29, 2007 - A Columbia pastor accused of raping a woman is out of jail on bond. His lawyer says the pastor denies the charge.

Anthony Dicks was at the funeral home he owns in Columbia on Thursday. He would not talk to WIS about the charge he faces.

Dicks has been the pastor at Friendship Baptist Church on House Street for 25 years. WIS interviewed him there for a story on violence last year. Rev. Anthony Dicks said, "You have to have the right security. We have to look out for each other."

The church website shows the reverend is married with four children.

He also runs the funeral home. That's where a 47-year-old woman says Dicks attacked her last week. The woman says the reverend invited her over to the funeral home chapel last Friday night to watch television. While there, she says he asked her for a hug, then forced her down and raped her on the floor.

The reverend told WIS to call his lawyer, Jerry Finney, "That is a very serious allegation and we deny those allegations and that is one of the reasons why he is very passionate about his day in court."

The charge has surprised people from the church community. Rev. John Williams says, "Everything I know about him speaks to the highest level of integrity and respect."

Reverend Williams knows Dicks and his family from the ministerial alliance. "I just want strength and comfort for him and them and that our entire community of Christian faith does not get tarnished by the allegation that has been presented."

The reverend is free on bond until his court date.

Reported by Jennifer Wilson

Updated 10:32pm by Chantelle Janelle