The church worker charged with the rape of a 16-year-old met
his alleged victim when she was 10 and warned her that she would be
banned from mission trips if she told anyone about their activities, a
Lexington police detective testified Tuesday.
Tony
Sasnett, 39, was the home Bible study director for Greater Faith
Apostolic Church on Clays Mill Road in Lexington. As a result of his
church role, police and the prosecution argued, Sasnett was in a
position of “special trust” with the victim, but his attorney, Dan
Carman, disputed that contention at Tuesday’s preliminary hearing before
Fayette District Judge Kim Wilkie.
Sasnett is charged
with four counts of third-degree rape, one count of sexual abuse and one
count of using a phone to solicit nude photos of a minor. He originally
was charged with five counts of rape, but one charge was dismissed at
Tuesday’s hearing because the alleged crime was in neighboring Jessamine
County.
Sasnett is no longer employed by the church, its pastor confirmed Wednesday.
,,,
Carman unsuccessfully argued that Sasnett wasn’t in a position of
trust with the girl, a key distinction necessary for the charges to
stand.
Sasnett was licensed as a pastor in the Apostolic church,
and police found three videos of sermons Sasnett delivered at the church
in addition to his role as home Bible study director, Smith testified.
Detective: Church worker used his position to pressure 16-year-old into sex | Lexington Herald-Leader
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