"Reverend King" acquitted of rape. Defense argued man's relationship w/17-year-old consensual

DA's former employee acquitted in rape trial
Dallas: Defense argued man's relationship with 17-year-old consensual
10:29 PM CDT on Thursday, July 12, 2007
By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News
jemily@dallasnews.com

A former employee of the Dallas County district attorney was found not guilty Thursday of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old. The defense argued that the sexual encounter – which produced a baby girl – was consensual.

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The young woman and her family met Mr. King, now 54, through their church. He worked with her at churches in Pleasant Grove and was referred to as "Reverend King."

In October 2004, Mr. King picked the woman up at a bus stop, and they went to his house. She told jurors that she was raped in Mr. King's bedroom, but defense attorneys Scottie Allen and James Belt argued they had a consensual relationship. DNA testing shows that Mr. King is the father of the child.

<snip>

Other jurors declined to comment, but attorneys said some expressed dismay after later learning that other sexual assault allegations had been leveled against Mr. King and that he had been convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old in the early 1980s.

More:
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/071307dnmetkingtrial.33831f0.html

The guy's a criminal and a predator, but he isn't a minister.

because he and his 15 year old girl friend had consenual sex.