Va. Pastor Sentenced to 18 Months on Sex Charge

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Posted: 9:42 AM Jul 8, 2009 Va. Pastor Sentenced to 18 Months on Sex Charge A former assistant church pastor in Roanoke has been sentenced to 18 months in prison on a sex-abuse charge. He told Roanoke Circuit Court Judge James Swanson on Tuesday that he was innocent, but didn't want the 12-year-old girl to have to testify.

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July 8, 2009

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - A former assistant church pastor has been sentenced to 18 months in prison on a sex-abuse charge.

Forty-three-year-old Daniel Silverman pleaded no contest to a charge of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl. He told Roanoke Circuit Court Judge James Swanson on Tuesday that he was innocent, but didn't want the child to have to testify.

Prosecutor Randy Leach says Silverman already confessed to molesting the girl to a police officer and a social services worker last summer.

Silverman was assistant pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Vinton.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Jason Location: Maine on Sep 22, 2010 at 10:50 AM

Interesting case, why would anyone ever plead guilty to molesting their own daughter? Supposedly so that she wouldn't have to testify? All just an evil scheme by his wife because he turned into an atheist? Jeez. I thought atheists were supposed to be 'rational thinkers', basically if you believe this guy, then you need your head examined. He did it, he is guilty. Stop trying to make him into some kind of atheist martyr. The problem with ex-Christians is that they think that it is such a big deal. Nobody cares what your beliefs are, or how you have changed them. Putting an incestuous child molester on a pedestal as an example of the 'persecuted atheist' is about the stupidest thing he could have done to advance credibility as a group. Dan Silverman makes a lousy poster boy for atheists ex-Christians. His guilt is undeniable

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 15, 2009 at 12:53 PM

the truth is that he is an outspoken atheist who rejects the Bible completely. Soon after his crime was exposed he began stating that he was no longer a Christian and the entire thing was a frame.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Germany on Jul 11, 2009 at 12:15 AM

Silverman did not fool the judge. He needs to admit his guilt and allow his family to heal.

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