WACO, Texas (ABP) -- A former pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Illinois and Texas has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault of a minor.

Frank Brown

Frank Brown, 45, resigned as pastor of Bellmead First Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, just before police arrested him in April. A grand jury indicted him in June on four counts of sexual assault of a child and four counts of indecency with a child. Prosecutors agreed to drop the indecency counts in exchange for a guilty plea Nov. 2.

According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, Judge Ralph Strother of Waco's 19th State District Court sentenced Brown to four concurrent 50-year sentences, although he said he was "somewhat reluctant" to accept the plea bargain.

During a victim-impact statement, the victim, who is now 13, said she forgave Brown, whom she described as her "spiritual mentor," but that he needed help. Prosecutor Beth Toben said Brown's guilty plea was a first step in helping the victim put her abuse behind her and get on with her life.

The original allegations against Brown involved two girls, but investigators determined that the other victim was allegedly abused in another state outside their jurisdiction.

Prior to coming to Texas Brown was pastor of Panther Creek New Beginnings Baptist Church in Chandlerville, Ill. The McLennan County prosecutor told the Waco newspaper that authorities in Illinois have been made aware of the allegations.

The indictment alleged that Brown abused the young girl from 2005 to May 2007. The allegations came to light when the girl told a school counselor she had been abused.

Brown will not be eligible for parole until after he has served 25 years of his sentence.

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This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.

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