Former children’s minister indicted on child sexual abuse charges

Former children’s minister indicted on child sexual abuse charges

Former children’s minister William Wesley Williamson, 38, has been indicted on four counts of sexual abuse of a child.

Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza said the first three alleged incidents, all involving boys, occurred at a summer camp in 2017. The fourth charge was filed by an additional victim and related to a different occasion between August and September of 2017.

Dothan news outlet WTVY said investigators said in one instance, Williamson “pushed in on the victim’s private parts in an effort to make him sit down.” Previous charges claim Williamson brushed against clothing in the genital area of two boys, one of them twice.

The Dothan Eagle reported that Williamson is scheduled to enter a plea to the charges in November. A jury trial has been scheduled for Jan. 14.

Williamson served at Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Dothan.

The church placed him on leave after receiving reports of possible misconduct and fired him in March when he was first arrested.

In related news, Acton Bowen, a former youth evangelist first arrested in April on multiple child sexual abuse charges, entered a plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disorder or defect.

Court records indicate Bowen was arraigned on a total of 21 felony crimes and seven misdemeanors Sept. 10 in Etowah County, where he is currently jailed without bond. Bowen also faces child sexual abuse charges in Jefferson County.