RELATED: Pastor asks for help with attorneys' fees | Adkins speaks from jail: 'I never had an inappropriate relationship with this young man'
Prosecutors allege controversial pastor Ken Adkins was sexually involved with teenagers years ago when he met minors through church.
Jurors were seated for Adkins' trial in Brunswick. The panel was seated made up of 11 women and three men.
In her opening statement, Prosecutor Katie Gropper said that three teenagers trusted Adkins and considered him a father figure.
Allegations of sexual molestation surfaced after one of the teenage boys joined the military. The state says the young man, now in his 20s, told police he had been molested by Adkins.
“He would let them use his locations his office, his house, his cars, places where they could have sex, where he could watch," Gropper told the jury.
Adkins had been held without bail in a Georgia jail since August 2016.
The judge dismissed the influencing a witness charge in the case.
Action News Jax reporter Bridgette Matter was in the courtroom and filed updates on Twitter:
Jury Selection still ongoing this morning. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
One of the potential jurors in this case is a potential witness, possible mother of alleged victim. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
State explaining Adkins allegedly watched two 15 year olds having sex. For Adkins 50th birthday he engaged in sexual acts with one.
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
State Adkins told the kids "This is someting you have to take to your grave." @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
State: When one of the victims came forward the other victim was living with Adkins and his wife. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
State: "Adkins gave a victim $200 as hush money." @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
State: One of the victims calls Adkins and wife mom and dad. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
State talking about Adkins sending photos of his private part to a victim. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
State: Co worker found sexually explicit conversations between Adkins & victim who lives with Adkins. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
State: Victim who lives with Adkins denies any sexual relationship ever took place, "strictly daddy- daughter relationship." @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Defense argues "Did Adkins actually commit the alleged offenses? Not acts with consensual adults." @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Defense says timeline does not match up, that anything that happened, happened after the victims were 16 years old. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Defense one of the alleged victims "said none of this happened before 2010." changes his story regarding timeline. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Defense alleged victim "cannot verify dates because it was so long ago." @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Recording: GBI " You never had any sexual relations with juveniles?"
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Adkins " no, no" @ActionNewsJax
Adkins admits in recording to buying a hotel room. Says the rooms were rented for other pastors coming to town. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
GBI " You never rented a room for ___?"
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Adkins" I don't think so." @ActionNewsJax
Not naming the alleged victims in this case because of the nature of the charges, you will see a ___ in my tweets for names. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Adkins keeps saying in the recording "This is crazy." @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
GBI "Were you there when ___ had sex at the motel"
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Adkins " I don't think I was in the room." @ActionNewsJax
Recording: Adkins "Sir I don't have sex with kids." @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
Photos of Adkins private parts shown to the jury, state says these photos were sent to the alleged victim. @ActionNewsJax
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) April 4, 2017
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