A Terrytown pastor will serve prison time after a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing two young teens.
The jury convicted Terry Reed on two counts each of third-degree rape and child molestation. Sentencing is set for June 18.
Prosecutors told the court that Reed twisted scripture and bible verses to manipulate the teens and coerce them into having sex and to justify his crimes. Police arrested Reed for molesting a 16-year-old in 2021. That prompted another victim to come forward to report to police that Reed molested him in 2011.
“He has preyed on these very, very troubled boys who don’t have a father figure in their lives,” Assistant District Attorney James Wascom told jurors in closing argument Wednesday.
Reed was a convicted sex offender prior to these latest crimes. He pleaded guilty to indecent behavior with juveniles in 1997 and in 2017 as well as to child molestation in 2017.
