Accused pastor will be tried on 18 abuse charges after pandemic restrictions lifted
TEXARKANA, Texas — A local pastor facing 18 felony counts involving the alleged sexual abuse of three girls will have each charge decided by a single jury.
At a hearing Monday before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell, the prosecution and defense agreed that allowing one jury to hear all the charges would be in the best interest of Logan Wesley III and will provide for judicial economy. Wesley’s case was scheduled for jury selection next month but the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a suspension of Tidwell’s trial docket.
Wesley, 56, allegedly used his position as pastor of Trinity Temple Church of God in Christ in Texarkana, Ark., to sexually abuse young girls and is accused of sexually abusing girls to whom he is related, according to probable cause affidavits. Wesley is being held in the Bowie County jail.
Tidwell, First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp, Wesley and Wesley’s lawyer, Josh Potter of Texarkana, appeared via Zoom video conferencing on Tidwell’s live streaming Facebook page. Crisp, who appeared from her office, said she intends to try all of the cases facing Wesley in one trial.
Crisp said that even if the cases were severed from one another, all of the alleged victims would likely give testimony in each trial. Potter said the defense would not object to trying all the charges at once.
Crisp previously said Wesley’s case is likely the first case the DA’s office will take to trial once COVID19 restrictions imposed by the Texas Supreme Court are lifted.
Wesley faces up to life in prison on some of the charges.