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Child Molestation / Child Rape / Grooming

1019: Jeffrey Bedwell

Cajsa LilliehookLeave a comment

Jeffrey Bedwell was a pastor at Chets Creek Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He was arrested in 2021, accused of grooming and sexually assaulting a child since she was twelve until she was seventeen. He got to know her when she was twelve and began seriously grooming her when she was thirteen. When she was fourteen, he began raping her. He raped her until she was seventeen.

He accepted a plea deal. The state dropped the sexual battery charges that carry life sentences and he pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, one count of lewd or lascivious conduct, one count of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and one count of lewd and lascivious exhibition.

He was sentenced to thirty years in prison.

Florida Times-Union: Former Jacksonville pastor accused of molesting, ‘grooming’ child
Bedwell allegedly had two sexual encounters with the victim when she was 14, according to the arrest report. The sexual assault continued up until the victim was 17 years old, the report said. During the investigation, police found that Bedwell would sexually assault the child at his home or inside his vehicle. Based on the evidence, Bedwell was arrested on July 8 and was booked into the Duval County jail. Bedwell was employed as a pastor at Chets Creek Church up until 2019, according to Chets Creek Church. Spike Hogan, the Senior Pastor of Chets Creek Church where Bedwell was a former employee sent First Coast News a statement on his recent arrest. Chets Creek was shocked and devastated to learn of the charges made against a former member of its staff. Jeff Bedwell's employment with the church was terminated more than two years ago for issues unrelated to the current charges now made against him. During his time with Chets, he was subjected to the same thorough vetting and background check process that we require of all leaders, and there was no hint of criminal activity. Had we learned of, or had any reason to believe there was wrongdoing, we would have reported it to law enforcement immediately. With his recent arrest, we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can as they conduct their investigation. This story was first published on firstcoastnews.com

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