BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Controversial pastor Kenneth Adkins is accused of watching and participating in sexual acts with minors. On Friday, he had his preliminary hearing with a Georgia judge, who said the case will head to Superior Court for a bond hearing.
Adkins, 56, is facing two charges of child molestation with a boy under the age of 16 for incidents that allegedly took place in 2010.
Adkins is the pastor of Greater Dimensions Christian Fellowship's Brunswick church and has voiced his remarks about homosexuals loudly and clearly in public, on television and on Twitter.
[ READ KENNETH ADKINS' CRIMINAL ARREST WARRANT ]
The victim states in his testimony that Adkins told the victim he wanted to watch him and his girlfriend to make sure they were doing it properly.
Innocent until proven guilty was the message defense attorney Kevin Gough delivered Friday.
“We’re confident that Pastor Adkins will be acquitted,” said Gough.
A Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent took the stand, recalling testimony given to the GBI by the victim, whom they are calling "AJ." The agent said AJ told them his relationship with Adkins started at the church when he was 15 years old.
He said he had met Adkins through a mutual friend. AJ also claims he considered Adkins a father figure and Adkins would mentor him. That’s when AJ claims their sexual relationship started.
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The victim also told the GBI Adkins would watch and sometimes join in with him and his girlfriend and have sex, but Adkins’ attorney told the court that's not true.
“She categorically denied that Mr. Adkins has done anything inappropriate at any time,” said Gough.
The victim claims months later, Adkins and AJ performed oral sex on each other at the victim’s home. A frustrated Adkins shook his head multiple times, even praying during this testimony.
“He knows what the truth is and he wants that truth to come out,” said Gough.
The victim also said in 2010, Adkins would email him graphic pictures of himself, but Adkins' attorney said the victim later said that email was sent in 2014.
“The timeline that they have given doesn’t match with the facts and that will come out as this case develops,” said Gough.
Gough questioned the victim’s motives, claiming AJ was mad because Adkins couldn’t pay back a $5,000 loan AJ gave to Adkins’ church.
“Basically all we have is the uncorroborated allegations of a young man, conveniently made six years after the fact, when that young (man) obviously has other agendas,” Gough said.
AJ is now 21 years old and is in the army. The GBI agent told the court he recently left a mental hospital. Pastor Adkins' bond hearing will be Sept. 23.