Ex-pastor's trial slated in child-endangering case

1/29/2008

A one-time Toledo Board of Education candidate and a former youth pastor at a local church will go to trial March 17 on several counts of child endangering.

The trial date for Richard Brown, III, whose address is listed on court documents as 1146 Hamilton St., was continued yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court by Judge Linda Jennings.

Mr. Brown is charged with four counts of child endangering and two counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. If convicted on all charges, Mr. Brown faces a maximum of 28 years in prison.

Mr. Brown, 34, is accused of abusing two brothers, now ages 16 and 18, whom he met while a youth pastor at Friendship Baptist Church, 5301 Nebraska Ave.

According to the prosecutor's office, two of the endangering counts involve coercing the boys into posing for inappropriate photos and two counts involve corporal punishment.

Mr. Brown, who had been the endorsed Democrat for the school board seat in the 2007 election, withdrew his candidacy before the election.