MEADVILLE, Miss. (AP) - A church leader and his adopted son have been found guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy who attended their church and school.
A jury deliberated only 45 minutes on Wednesday before returning the verdict after three days of testimony. Prosecutors had depicted David Earl King's Valley of the Kings Church as a cult-like group, with King as its patriarch.
King, 66, was sentenced to 36 years in prison for sexual battery, conspiracy to commit sexual battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was fined $16,000 on all counts.
King's son, Nathan Paul King, 32, received 18 years and 6 months for the same charges and was also fined $16,000.
A third man, Gary Lynn Bates, 21, of Denham Springs, La., was arrested on related charges. All three pleaded innocent.
Bates testified Tuesday that he, David Earl King, and the young victim engaged in sex together, ``three or four times.'' Bates said Nathan Paul King joined them twice.
Bates said he was threatened with expulsion from the church by the elder King if he did not continue to have sex with the child.
Under questioning by the defense, Bates acknowledged that he was promised five years probation in return for cooperating with prosecutors.
Nathan Paul King is also charged with sexual battery on another child, an 11-year-old boy.