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Pastor Denied Bail In Child Molestation Case

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2007

TAMPA - Halfway through listening to a 30-minute recorded conversation, Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Walter Heinrich said he'd heard enough and denied bail for a local youth minister charged with two counts of capital sexual battery on a minor.

On the tape, Justin Peterson, 31, is scolded and questioned by his accuser, who now is an adult and lives out of state.

Prosecutors say that from 1993 through 1995, Peterson molested her when she was 7 to 9 years old while he was babysitting and that he forced her to perform oral sex.

Peterson ministers to young adults at River of Life Church in Lutz.

During the taped conversation with his accuser, both to another girl prosecutors think is a victim. Assistant State Attorney Shauna Hale asked the judge to deny bail while investigators seek evidence to that effect.

Hillsborough County sheriff's Detective Travis Valles testified that in January family members confronted Peterson about the abuse and that he told them he did it. The accuser later contacted law enforcement in her state, and a phone conversation was arranged between her and Peterson and recorded.

When Valles went to the church to question him on Oct. 4, Peterson did not appear surprised.

"He said, 'I knew I shouldn't have talked to her. I want my attorney,'" Valles said.

Peterson was arrested on a warrant and has been in jail ever since.

On the tape, Peterson assures the woman that he is in counseling. He offers to let his counselor talk to her to prove it.

"There's never been a day that I haven't hated myself for any of that with you or with" the other girl, he say.

The woman does not appear moved by his promises.

"Even though you admitted it, I see no consequences," she says. "Counseling is not a consequence. … This has affected my whole life. … I was molested. How can I explain that to my future husband?"

Peterson tells her he doesn't know how to prove his sincerity.

"I am genuinely sorry," he says. "I've never hated myself for anything as much as that."

"Do you admit that you did this?" she asks.

"Absolutely."

"Do you feel like you did something wrong?"

"Absolutely."

After the family encounter in January, Peterson did not go to police. He went to his attorney instead.

"The only reason he didn't go to law enforcement was on my strict orders," attorney Joe Bodiford said.

In arguing for bail of $50,000 to $100,000, Bodiford said Peterson was a changed man who had devoted his life to the ministry. He married into a family of ministers and is a devoted father to two young boys, the attorney said.

Peterson's wife and relatives filled two rows in the courtroom in support. Members of the church where Peterson and his wife and in-laws minister, River of Life, stand behind Peterson "100 percent," Bodiford said.

"We believe the evidence will show he was 17 or younger" when the offenses occurred, Bodiford said. "He only babysat during the time he was in high school, and he turned 18 in October after he graduated high school."

If convicted, Peterson could be sentenced to life in prison.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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