Saturday, August 15, 2015

UPDATED::Former youth minister pleads guilty to child molestation - TimesDaily: Crime

 Oliver Brazelle
 http://www.waaytv.com/appnews/former-youth-minister-sentenced-to-years-behind-bars-for-child/article_22e814ae-6d42-11e5-9560-5f406390a903.html

UPDATE:  Former youth minister to spend 2 years in prison

Brazelle, 81, the former music and youth minister of First United Methodist Church of Sheffield, was indicted in August 2014 on sodomy and sexual abuse charges involving a teenage boy.

He pleaded guilty to child molestation, a lesser included offense, in August.

On Wednesday morning, Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Gil Self sentenced Brazelle to 10 years, split with two years to serve in prison.

Self said Brazelle must register as a sex offender as well as have no contact, “direct or indirect,” with the victim or any member of his immediate family.

Lauderdale County Chief Assistant District Attorney Will Powell said the victim’s family was pleased with the plea agreement and sentence.

“Hopefully sending him to jail will give them the type of closure they need,” Powell said.
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Oliver W. Brazelle told Lauderdale County Judge Gil Self he was pleading guilty to child molestation because he enticed a boy to his lake house for immoral purposes.

Moments later Brazelle officially entered a “guilty” plea to the charge, which is a Class C felony.

Self said Brazelle will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Oct. 7, after a presentencing report has been completed. He faces 1-10 years in prison.
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Brazelle was terminated as music minister at the church on July 27, 2012. Police said Brazelle had not held youth minister duties at the church for about 10 years before his arrest.


According to an August 2012 letter to members of the church explaining Brazelle’s termination, the former youth director and music minister admitted to church officials he had an inappropriate relationship with a younger church member.


Another letter released by church officials during the initial probe, stated in 2003 the United Methodist Church’s bishop restricted Brazelle from choir directorship with young people after he was accused of inappropriate sexual contact in the 1970s.

Former youth minister pleads guilty to child molestation - TimesDaily: Crime

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