Grand jury gets church sex abuse case

August 15, 2008 13:35 EDT [source]

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A judge in Maryville has sent a church sex abuse case to a Blount County grand jury.

Michael Salazar and Laura Lee Click Salazar were charged by police with statutory rape and sexual battery against three teenage girls in the youth program at Lord’s Disciples Ministries of Whosoever Will church.

The husband and wife are both 35 years old.

The cases were bound over at the Salazars’ initial court appearance on Friday.

Police Chief Tony Crisp said further charges are possible, noting that three other girls came forward after the Salazars were arrested, saying they, too, were sexually abused.