ST. THOMAS, US VIRGIN ISLANDS — Federal prosecutors charged a St. Thomas church leader with transporting a teenage girl for illicit sexual contact, the U.S. Justice Department announced Friday.

Lawrence Turnbull, 65, a senior pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church, allegedly brought the girl to Lindqvist Beach and other locations, where he ignored her pleas to go home. He allegedly kissed and fondled her against her wishes between October 2023 and June 2024, according to court records.

Court records only described the victim as being a girl under 18, and Turnbull as her pastor.

Turnbull was charged with two counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, three counts of first-degree unlawful sexual contact, coercion and enticement, and child abuse on March 6. Court records were sealed until April 1

U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Teague scheduled a June 1 trial. If convicted, Turnbull would face a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, and could be sentenced to life. Prosecutors may also seek forfeiture of two vehicles Turnbull allegedly used to transport the girl, a silver, four-door, 2018 Toyota Corolla and a brown 2012 Lincoln MKZ, according to court records.

Turnbull was released on $50,000 bail and ordered not to return to the church or be around children, according to court records.

In 2018, Turnbull told a Baptist magazine that about 100 people attended his church and that he believed God had sent the 2017 hurricanes as a way to spread the Christian gospel.

Read original article