Pastor jailed on child indecency charge

PALESTINE, TX Hezekiah Stallworth of Palestine remained in jail Thursday on $50,000 bond on a felony count of indecency with a child by sexual contact. Stallworth could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor tells the Tyler Morning Telegraph that a 9-year-old girl has contacted authorities with similar claims since the alleged incident last month.

Stallworth is pastor at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Elkhart, about 125 miles southeast of Dallas.

A jail official said there was no information on an attorney for Stallworth.