WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Convicted child molester, preacher now faces new charges

Convicted child molester, preacher now faces new charges

SUMMERVILLE, SC (WIS) - A South Carolina minister is accused of exposing himself to a 5-year-old girl who attended his church, but it's not even close to the first time he's been charged with a sex crime involving a child.

Now some are wondering not only why Kosier was allowed to preach again, but why he was even on the streets in the first place.

Dorchester Co. Maj. John Garrison said Tuesday that 48-year-old Marion Leon Kosier Jr. of Harleyville Christian Church turned himself in and is charged with committing or attempting to commit a lewd act on a child.

The girl's parents say they have no indication of anything except the alleged exposure. Kosier's wife says his attorney is working to have the charge changed to indecent exposure. Lil Kosier said her husband is innocent.

An affidavit accuses him of walking into the girl's bedroom sometime between April 1 and Sept. 1, 2008 with his pants open and his genitals exposed.

Kosier has had run-ins with the law before, and currently has an entry on the SC Sex Offender Registry for sex crimes involving children.

In 1996, Kosier was accused of of exposing himself to two girls who came to his house selling doughnuts. He was convicted of indecent exposure and committing a lewd act on a child under 16, and sentenced to two years probation and some counseling.

He was again convicted of committing a lewd act on a child younger than 16 in 1982, as well as third degree criminal sexual conduct in 1984. The victim in the first case was 11, while the victim in the second case was just 7 years old, according to the registry.

Count on WIS News 10 to bring you updates on Kosier's current charge as we get them into the newsroom.

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