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Marshall minister charged with statutory sodomy for child molestation

Monday, April 13, 2009
By GEOFF RANDS and ERIC CRUMP/Democrat-News writers

A 48-year-old Marshall minister is being held in Saline County jail early Monday in lieu of a $250,000 cash-only bond following a weekend arrest by Marshall police, according to Sheriff Wally George.

David Lyle Ballinger has been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree statutory sodomy, according to court records.

Statutory sodomy occurs when a person has deviate sexual intercourse with another person who is less than 14 years old.

In this case, Ballinger is accused of having sexual contact with two girls under the age of 12.

Marshall police arrested Ballinger Saturday, April 11, after questioning him about the allegations.

Ballinger was a pastor at New Grace Baptist Church in Marshall during the time the events allegedly took place, which was during the 2008 calendar year, according to Marshall Police Department's probable cause statement.

He has no prior criminal history, according to the police report.

Ballinger is currently being held at Saline County Jail.

Saline County Sheriff Wally George said, "I have never seen a one quarter million dollar bond set on someone in the associate court division."

Ballinger is scheduled to appear in front of Judge James "Tut" Bellamy at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, for a counsel status hearing.

If convicted, Ballinger could face life in prison or a term of not less than ten years.

Comments

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This is just HORRIFIC. I will be interested to hear and or read the FACTS in this case! There are different types of victims in this case, as well as enablers. Many times a person turns the cheek because we cannot believe what we have seen. I feel sorry for everyone who knows this family because they are hurting and suffering as well as everyone in this town. This is just ANOTHER reason why you CANNOT trust someone completely with your children.

I certainly hope if YOU should ever, ever,ever even have a doubt of something fishy...check it out, DO NOT let it go!

-- Posted by Curiousintown on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 3:04 PM

This man is a God serving man!!I have known his family for over 8 years and at one point in time, my child was in the youth group with him and his own children.. Yes this is an awful thing, and may God bless these two little girls, and YES "IF" he is guilty, then he needs to be held accountable, and heres a thought for all of you who want to talk trash without all the facts... Before you start bashing too hard, think about the words you say and how they will effect his INNICENT wife, son and two daughters!!! Also, his church family!! Though we ABSOLUTLY do NOT CONDONE these actions, Lets not forget that GOD FOR GAVE US( those who are saved) of sins that we did!! GOD WILL FORGIVE HIM (when he repents) how about you? will you judge yourself after you judge him? PRayer is all we can do and it is the BEST ANSWER for all the involved... THESE were not his children "rumor" has it that it was foster children...I AM NOT 100% sure of that though, but please keep him,his family, our church, and these little girls in your prayers, not on your trash list!!

-- Posted by blessesassurance on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 11:02 PM

Was the first court hearing this morning? Is there any news about the charges; were they internet, or actual charges? Will there be an update in the paper soon?

-- Posted by Happy_to_be_home on Wed, Apr 15, 2009, at 6:46 PM

Response by Eric Crump/Editor:

I just posted an update. Sorry for the delay.

www.marshallnews.com/story/1530923.html

At least this time a Marshall church reported the crime .And did not sweep it under the carpet to save face. Maybe other Churches in Marshall should take lessons.

-- Posted by happy2bgone on Wed, Apr 15, 2009, at 4:29 PM

I'm thankful that he has been on the news cast and his name in the newspaper.I do not Understand why the punishment is'nt worse,that these sick individuals recieve,let me tell you the family goes thru a life time OF HURT AND ANGER THERE IS'NT ENOUGH COUNSELING IN THIS WORLD TO MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS GO AWAY,EXCEPT AND FORGIVE?HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE YOU LOVE?I HOPE NOT THE PAIN IS HARD.TheSE INDIVIDUALS ARE EVIL,MEAN,AND ONLY GET WHAT?LIVE LIFE AND BE FREE AFTER SO MANY MONTHS NOT FAIR AT ALL .....Anytime someone does anything to a child should be a very harsh punishment.My idea is to hard to be put on here but i bet some of you can guess.The man confessed he needs to go to prison.It should be the law to do a background check on ministers before they are allowed to enter a church family.

-- Posted by flinstones on Tue, Apr 14, 2009, at 7:07 PM

I guess I missed a news article somewhere, where are you getting the information saying he confessed to these allegations?

-- Posted by blueslover77 on Tue, Apr 14, 2009, at 6:22 PM

Response by Eric Crump/Editor:

That information was not included in our story yesterday but reference to a confession is in the police report that is part of court records in the case.

Mr. Ballinger confessed to his family and to God. We will now wait to see what the courts will decide. It is sad that this man was willing to give up a wonderful family that loved and supported him for just a few moments of pleasure. Satan is so wise and we must all take heed lest we fall. We must saturate ourselves with God's Holy Word and stay in fellowship with Christ. My prayers are for the innocent ones, the little girls and his family.

-- Posted by Mistersamiam on Tue, Apr 14, 2009, at 1:49 PM

Apparently my post came across to some of you in the wrong manner, this man has not been tried and convicted yet! I have not yet seen anywhere that he confessed to these allegations, if I am mistaken, then I am will repost. Please let the man have a trial, it is law that people are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty! Too many people are too quick to jump to conclusions and assume what "someone said" has to be true.

I thought maybe Marshall might have learned something when a man sat in jail for 2 years and a LOT of people talked smack about he did it he did it and so on and when he was tried he was found NOT guilty!

As for those of you who wondered how I would feel if it happened to me, maybe it already has, maybe I have learned something from it. There you go passing judgement on people again when you dont know all the facts! Gearing your feeling towards anger doesnt help anything, GET COUNSELLING!!!!! Hate breeds hate...nobody benefits from it, there are too many angry people in this world. Let the man have his day in court before everyone starts passing judgement on him, thats all I am saying. Yes he deserves to be punished IF he is guilty. I bet there is not one person that has made a post in here that hasnt been accused of something they didnt do...did yoo like it? How did it feel? Do you want everyone to be judging you on what someone else said?

Lets find out the facts before we find him guilty and set a punishment.

-- Posted by blueslover77 on Tue, Apr 14, 2009, at 1:19 PM

The true judgement will come when (if he's found guilty) he goes to a prison and his fellow inmates discover what he did to two girls under the age of 12! That is when the real punishment will begin!!

-- Posted by oldschool17 on Tue, Apr 14, 2009, at 7:55 AM

You know no matter how much counseling the girls get it will NEVER take away what this man has done to them. Sexual abuse is sooo difficult to overcome. And this sicko needs to be put somewhere where he can "SHAKE OFF THE DEMONS".

-- Posted by luckymomma on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 9:51 PM

We need to pray for everyone involved here. I hope these young girls get the counseling they need and that they don't lose their faith in God after this.

How devastating this is for the church family. I hope they remember that God is the one to worship and not the pastor. The pastor will have to answer to God as well as the Missouri law. Pray for him that he will be able to shake the demons that took control of his life. God forgives! We have a harder time doing this.

And last but not least: I'm sure that his family is suffering. This is almost worse than facing a death. Pray for them and show them respect and love.

-- Posted by Grandma's Hands on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 8:10 PM

blueslover77,

I wonder what your reaction would be had this happened to your children??

-- Posted by luckymomma on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 6:27 PM

Let's not forget there was a radio announcer and doctor in our little town that were arrested for solicitation. Thank GOD the authorities got them first!!! I would like to know what happened with them. I must have missed it in the paper.

This guy needs to be locked up for life!! He has forever changed these little girls lives.

Make an example!! Anyone who does this to a child deserves to be locked up forever!!!

-- Posted by luckymomma on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 6:24 PM

Response by Eric Crump/Editor:

I'm not familiar with the case involving a doctor. The radio announce, I assume, is Ethan Handel. Here are a few stories about his case:

www.marshallnews.com/story/1232880.html

www.marshallnews.com/story/1395895.html

www.marshallnews.com/story/1477871.html

ahm--what blueslover77 is trying to get across to the readers is that we are called not to judge others. Because we are human, we tend to do it anyway but in the end it is up to God. To Repent and ask for forgiveness does amazing things in a person's life if they allow it to. we each need to concentrate on how we live our lives and treat others. Did we not just celebrated Easter?

-- Posted by SeekingInfo on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 5:51 PM

YeeHaw--Don't give up looking for a church family!

This is an awful thing to have happen in any family. As loving christians we need to hold each of them up in our prayers. The girls and their families, the Pastor and his family and the church family. New Grace Baptist Church should not be judge by the allegations against their pastor.

-- Posted by SeekingInfo on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 5:44 PM

are you serious blueslover77 dont judge the man!!!! he needs to be punished and never let out in the world ever again!!!! this is a very serious and sick crime!

-- Posted by amh on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 5:38 PM

The man confessed when arrested. Thank God that these two little girls are very strong in nature and heart. I pray for them, the family and for Ballinger's wife.

-- Posted by joboda on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 5:24 PM

For those of you who are unaware, most of the people who prey on children are people the family know and trust! Please make wise decisions and listen to your children. I hope these children get the counselling and coping skills they need to know they are not at fault, and to rebuild their self esteem. I hope the parents get counselling as well to help with anger issues and parenting skills to deal with such allegations.

Please dont judge this man until we know for sure what the circumstances are, just pray for all involved and let God handle him, God's wrath is much more appropriate than any words or punishment anyone could endure or hand down on this earth.....after all, He is our judge...yes???

-- Posted by blueslover77 on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 5:19 PM

That's awful!!! Those poor girls!!!!!! I'm a mother of an 11 year old. I cannot even imagine what the parents are feeling in this situation!!! Times like these I wonder what this world is coming to!!!!!

-- Posted by opin on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 4:15 PM

What is happening? A minister in St. Joe recently was arrest for attempting to have sex with a 13 year old he met online (but it was an undercover agent). A Sunday School teacher accused of murdering a child - - - God bless us all and keep us safe from those who pretend to be Christians.

-- Posted by Listening In on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 4:06 PM

GOD PRAY FOR THE GIRLS AND THERE FAMILY!!!

-- Posted by amh on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 2:48 PM

I have a question---Were these his children or children of members of his church?

-- Posted by take5 on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 11:52 AM

Response by Eric Crump/Editor:

The names of the victims are redacted from the police report, so it is difficult to say what their relationship might be.

Oh my goodness, here in Marshall, is this a Marshall native?

-- Posted by Curiousintown on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 11:37 AM

Boy Talk about Respect going to the craper...I still can't believe this happened in our town!

-- Posted by RedTruckRider on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 10:28 AM

God guide these children and help them in their recovery and I pray that the family of the alleged perp. also finds strength in God. As I am sure they are going thru rough times too.

-- Posted by workingmom on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 10:16 AM

I know many readers will have strong opinions about this case, but I urge everyone to use restraint when making comments. We've learned a great deal in the past year or so of attempting to manage conversations on controversial topics and, as always, we will try to balance open expression with sensitivity to the people involved. In this case, we'll be especially vigilant.

-- Posted by Eric Crump on Mon, Apr 13, 2009, at 9:19 AM