Pastor charged with fondling 12-year-old
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December 16, 2008
Post-Tribune staff report
GARY -- Twice this summer, the pastor of Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church fondled and groped a 12-year-old member of his congregation, telling her "he wanted her to be his ho," court records filed Monday state.
Marlon C. Mack, 35, formerly of Van Buren Baptist Church here and New Community Baptist Church in Hammond, was charged with two counts of child molesting and faces up to 28 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
Patrolman Reggie Woods and Detective LaRia Crews arrested Mack on Sunday during a traffic stop at 13th Avenue and Grant Street.
Crews obtained the charges after the victim told her about the two incidents.
The first time, the girl, who turned 12 in May, said she came out of the church restroom and Mack was there. "He grabbed her by the breasts and started rubbing her," the probable cause affidavit states.
A month later, in August, Mack "pulled her into the kitchen" and put his hand down her pants. Later, he showed her pornographic photos and said he was going to introduce her to an older woman who would teach her about sex.
Mack is being held at Lake County Jail in Crown Point.
The Post-Tribune left a message on the church's answering machine Monday seeking comment on the pastor's status, but no one returned the call.
The church is at 3634 W. 11th Ave.
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