Raleigh church's choir director accused of statutory rape

Knightdale, N.C. — Knightdale police are investigating child sex allegations against a church choir director.

John Earl Wright, 31, the choir director of Body of Christ Church in Raleigh, was arrested Thursday on one count of statutory rape/sex offense as well as two counts of giving spirituous liquor to a person under age 21.

The alleged crimes happened Thursday at Wright's home, at 2109 Rosebud Drive in Knightdale, with a 14-year-old girl, Knightdale Police Chief Jason Godwin said Monday.

It appears Wright knew the girl through the church, but Godwin would not say exactly how.

"There's some type of relationship there," he said. "We're unsure of exactly what that relationship is."

Knightdale police were alerted early Friday morning after the girl told her mother.

"We were informed by family members of the victim, we initiated the investigation in the wee hours of the morning, and we were able to make an arrest that same day," Godwin said.

Wright was in the Wake County jail Monday afternoon under a $500,000 bond.

Calls seeking comment from the church's pastor, Kelvin Redmond, were not immediately returned Monday.

Police are encouraging anyone else who may have been a victim to come forward.

"The worst thing we can do is hide an inappropriate behavior, especially one that involves our children," Godwin said.

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Some of us do try to live out our faith. I am a Christian, and I am not at all ashamed of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. This being said, if he did what he is accused of, it was very wrong for him to do it. Wrong in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of God. Actions like the ones he is accused of are condemned in the Bible, which is what Christians are supposed to live by. I don't know if he did it or not, so I am withholding opinions on his guilt, but what I have written here applies, whether or not he is guilty of these allegations. I expect someone in leadership in the church to know what the Bible teaches and to conduct himself/herself accordingly,as leadership is to set an example. They are not perfect, but they should strive to set an example for their congregations to follow.

laurenfedorov
October 18, 2012 5:58 p.m.

Maybe he can lead the prison choir.

Coolbreeze
October 16, 2012 12:11 p.m.

"If Christins would live by the word of our savior Jesus Christ" - jasonconaway6969

That's the problem. RARELY do they actually follow the bible they like to thump. Some don't even know what it really says on its pages. While I don't believe in sky spirits or that Jesus was some kind of man-god, I do believe his words contain a lot of wisdom, and offer good guidance.

Lightfoot3
October 16, 2012 10:31 a.m.

There are some sick people in this world.

Rebelyell55
October 16, 2012 10:07 a.m.

"These people make Christians look bad. jasonconaway6969"

Instead of superstitious babble how about working to set the age of consent at something realistic like fourteen, condomize our kids and do away with this "statutory rape" nonsense?