Larry McKinley Clark’s attorney argued Tuesday that extensive publicity about the case would make it all but impossible to seat an impartial jury. Complicating the problem for Clark, attorney Dirk Padgett said, that news media coverage includes that of an earlier trial in which Clark was convicted of sexually abusing a second young parishioner.
“I do think it raises it to a
different level if [potential jurors] are aware of a conviction,”
Padgett argued during a hearing in Rockbridge County Circuit Court.
Judge Michael Irvine took the
motion for a change of venue under advisement, saying he will first try
to seat a jury in Lexington as the law requires. Irvine also agreed to
postpone Clark’s trial, which had been set for next week, until Sept.
14.
Clark, 63, is the former pastor of the Pentecostal Outreach Church in Buena Vista.
Former preacher wants second trial on sexual abuse charges moved from Rockbridge - Roanoke Times: Crime
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