Seventh Day Adventist Pastor Charged with Six Sexual Offense

Marlon Holder, Former SDA Pastor

A former Pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist church yesterday appeared before Scarborough Magistrate Nannette Forde-John. Charged is former Pastor Marlon Holder on six  counts of sexual assault involving a minor. Holder was not called upon to plead as the charges were laid indictably.

He faced three charges of indecent sexual assault and three charges of having sex with a female, between the age of 14-16 years. He was charged by Acting Corporal Cavelle Walters. Holder was picked up at his rented apartment in Sou Sou Lands, shortly before midnight on Monday.

The court heard the incidents occured between July 1 and 31, 2011, and January 1 and December 31, 2011. The acts were committed at his former home in Betty’s Hope and at another house located at Patience Hill.

Reports indicates that the former pastor was engaged in an illicit sexual relationship with a young female church member over the period.  Holder who is married was placed on $100, 000 bail  with surety clerk of the peace approval. 

Secretary/Treasurer of the Tobago SDA Mission Pastor Clyde Lewis pointed out that the church had already taken action to deal with the matter. “The pastor in question has resigned from the ministry effective June 30, 2013.,” confirmed Pastor Lewis.  He also indicated that the church have  arranged several counselling sessions with him in the hope that he would mend his ways. 

Holder would reappear in court on the 20th August 2013.