Wilmington-area pastor indicted on child sex offenses, some dating back more than 25 years

A pastor of a Brunswick County church faces multiple counts in a child sexual offense case.

On July 8, Jonathan Ballard, pastor of Straightway Ministries Wilmington and Church of the Living God in Leland and Whiteville, was indicted with 12 counts of taking indecent liberties with children, six counts of statutory sex offense, and one count of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a first appearance in New Hanover County Court Friday morning.

Four victims, including one who has since deceased, have come forward, Jason Smith, assistant district attorney representing the state in the case at Friday's first appearance, said. The alleged abuse occurred between 1995 and 2019 across multiple counties.

Previous Coverage:Preacher’s sex charges are dropped

Previous Coverage:Pastor charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of assault on a female

One victim had joined Ballard's church for bible study in 1996, Smith said. The victim was 15 years old when the alleged abuse began and continued until the victim was 20.

A second victim alleged that they experienced similar abuse in 2000, when the victim was also 15 years old, Smith said. The victim alleges that physical sexual abuse occurred once every two weeks.

A third victim alleged abuse began in 2004 when they were approximately 11 years old, Smith said. The alleged abuse continued through 2006 until the victim moved away to Durham.

"We believe he is a flight risk," Smith said at the first appearance, requesting Ballard's approximately $1 million bond be increased to $5 million. Ballard has a valid passport and ties to churches nationwide and in South America.

The judge overseeing the first appearance ruled that Ballard must surrender his passport and is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with minors. Ballard is also prohibited from traveling out of state pending further order from the court.

Ballard's bond was maintained at $1 million, an amount he had already posted through use of a bail bondsman, according to the first appearance.

Ballard previously faced charges in a sexual abuse case in New Hanover County in 2004, according to prior StarNews reporting. The charges were ultimately dropped for lack of evidence.

As of April 2024, Ballard was actively posting on the Straightway Ministeries Facebook page.