|
|
|
Leesville, La. —
A local church and school officials offered assurances to the public on Thursday following the arrest of a New Llano man for possessing child pornography.
State troopers arrested Francis Buckner, Jr. 38, on Tuesday, charging him with possessing pornography with juveniles. Buckner was employed by the Vernon Parish School Board and also volunteered at East Leesville Baptist Church at the time of his arrest.
"Pending further investigation of this matter, (Buckner) is on leave from the Vernon Parish School Board," said Superintendent of Schools Jackie Self in a phone interview Thursday morning. Self declined to comment further on the issue because of the ongoing investigation.
According to Gil Arthur, senior pastor at East Leesville Baptist Church, Buckner's work with the church was terminated while the investigation is under way.
Buckner served at the door of the children's building where the security code was, which allows people in and out of the children's building on Wednesday nights, and he also assisted with children's worship on Sundays under the leadership of someone else.
Buckner, according to Arthur, had undergone a thorough background check and security clearance, as do all children workers at the church, before he was allowed to work with the children.
"His record was clean," said Arthur, who also expressed confidence in the church's security system, which ensures that no teacher is ever alone with a child.
The pastor said the church serves from 200-300 children and that the system became necessary years ago, not only to protect against potential predators but to also ensure that children are released to the appropriate parent.
Arthur said he would also be calling a meeting of all children workers at the church to go over polices and to make sure that all of the church's polices are reaffirmed.
Arthur said that the church was not "in a place, nor is anyone, to make a verdict until the trial."
A local church and school officials offered assurances to the public on Thursday following the arrest of a New Llano man for possessing child pornography.
State troopers arrested Francis Buckner, Jr. 38, on Tuesday, charging him with possessing pornography with juveniles. Buckner was employed by the Vernon Parish School Board and also volunteered at East Leesville Baptist Church at the time of his arrest.
"Pending further investigation of this matter, (Buckner) is on leave from the Vernon Parish School Board," said Superintendent of Schools Jackie Self in a phone interview Thursday morning. Self declined to comment further on the issue because of the ongoing investigation.
According to Gil Arthur, senior pastor at East Leesville Baptist Church, Buckner's work with the church was terminated while the investigation is under way.
Buckner served at the door of the children's building where the security code was, which allows people in and out of the children's building on Wednesday nights, and he also assisted with children's worship on Sundays under the leadership of someone else.
Buckner, according to Arthur, had undergone a thorough background check and security clearance, as do all children workers at the church, before he was allowed to work with the children.
"His record was clean," said Arthur, who also expressed confidence in the church's security system, which ensures that no teacher is ever alone with a child.
The pastor said the church serves from 200-300 children and that the system became necessary years ago, not only to protect against potential predators but to also ensure that children are released to the appropriate parent.
Arthur said he would also be calling a meeting of all children workers at the church to go over polices and to make sure that all of the church's polices are reaffirmed.
Arthur said that the church was not "in a place, nor is anyone, to make a verdict until the trial."
