Clinton minister faces sexual charges against 12-year-old By Chris Berendt
Friday, January 20, 2006 1:11 PM EST
Thomas Lindell Robinson
WARSAW — A Clinton man and pastor of a church in Duplin County has been charged with having sexual relations with a 12-year-old girl who frequented the church’s day care operated by the pastor’s wife, according to Duplin County Sheriff’s authorities. The sex acts reportedly occurred on multiple occasions from March to December 2005 and the girl is now pregnant and expecting to give birth within the next week, authorities said.
Thomas Lindell Robinson, 56, of 2041 Old Warsaw Road, Clinton, has been charged with first-degree rape of a child and taking indecent liberties with a child. Robinson was taken into custody on Jan. 13 and is currently under $1 million bond.
Robinson, a resident of Clinton, is pastor at New Life Christian Center on Pete Quinn Road in Warsaw. The 12-year-old girl is a resident of Duplin County.
“It’s disheartening to me that someone in that position would violate a child like that,” said Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace.
According to Duplin County Sheriff’s Detective Linda Tyson, the girl visited the church’s adjoining day care facility, New Life Early Childhood Development Center, after school and during the summer when school was not in session.
“All evidence indicates that he had sexual relations with this girl on more than one occasion,” said Wallace.
The investigation was launched by the Sheriff’s Office in November after authorities received information that the 12-year-old was pregnant, the sheriff said. The Division of Social Services and Department of Health and Human Services was then notified. The day care has been closed by the state, said Wallace.
The day care, of which Robinson’s wife was the director, was closed down “for the safety of the children,” said Wallace. According to the sheriff, Robinson was “in and out of the day care and had contact with the children.”
“It’s shocking to me that someone in a position of trust and should be a role model to people in this community would do something like this,” said Wallace. “It’s sad and it’s disgusting, quite frankly.”
The sheriff said that the investigation into Robinson was ongoing.
A Web site search for leaders within the New Christian Life Center who might comment on the incident was unsuccessful.
Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 21, or by email at sicrime@intrstar.net