A former Harrison pastor, Larry Berkley of Covington,Tennessee, was back in Boone County Circuit Court Friday.
The Harrison Daily Times says the 38-year-old Berkley is charged with sexual solicitation, four counts of first-degree sexual assault, seven counts of second-degree sexual assault, six counts of knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor, four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two counts of loaning pornography to minors.
Berkley is accused of allowing minors and juveniles go to his house to smoke marijuana and drink alcohol. In addition, he is accused of sexually assaulting young males, all over 14 but under 18, and allowing them to watch pornography.
One of the victims told police Berkley had taken him to the funeral home where he worked part time and showed him a dead body. The victim said Berkley had stored marijuana in a very expensive casket he didnt think people could afford to buy.
Berkley was arrested in May 2014 on Harrison Police charges while he was in Covington, Tennessee, where he was living at the time. He had just finished officiating a graveside funeral service when he was arrested, officials said.
After being brought back to Harrison, he pleaded not guilty to charges against him. His lawyer asked Circuit Judge Gordon Webb to reduce Berkleys bond from $100,000 to $50,000, a sum his family would post and allow him to return to Tennessee.
Webb denied that motion, but records show Berkley was released from the Boone County Jail after posting bond in May 2014.
But a Tennessee grand jury indicted Berkley in June 2014 on two counts of rape and four counts each of aggravated statutory rape, sexual battery by an authority figure and statutory rape by an authority figure.
Police said the Harrison case jump started the Tennessee case. Berkley was a pastor in Tennessee prior to moving to Harrison.
The Associated Press reported in January 2015 a jury convicted Berkley of all counts against him. Tennessee court records indicate Berkleys appeal of convictions was denied in May 2016. Tennessee prison records show Berkley is eligible for parole there in September 2037.
Officials said in October 2014 that Berkleys Harrison case would be continued until the Tennessee case was resolved.
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