A Cleveland church official is free on a $75,000 bond after being charged on an indictment with possessing more than 100 sexually explicit images involving a minor.
Richard Lee "Rick" Sentell, 64, listed as a pastor of Cornerstone Church of God on Dalton Pike in Cleveland on the church website and social media page, was arrested Christmas night following a Cleveland Police Department investigation. He was indicted by a grand jury on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to court records.
The landline phone listed for the church was disconnected, although someone with the church responded "no comment" to a message sent through the church's social media page.
Contacted by phone, District Attorney Shari Tayloe said she could not comment on case details because it involves juveniles.
The investigation was launched on a tip to Cleveland police, according to agency spokesperson Lt. Evie West.
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"Cleveland Police Department detectives started an investigation based off a cybertip received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child sexual abuse material activity online," West said via email. "The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at the home of Richard Sentell. A forensic analysis of Mr. Sentell's personal laptop led to the discovery of a large amount of images depicting the sexual abuse of children."
West could not provide any more details.
Sentell is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge Jan. 8, according to the Bradley County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Sentell did not have an attorney on record yet.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.