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Zebulon man convicted of molesting girl in church sentenced to 85 years

A Zebulon man who was found guilty on Thursday of molesting a 6-year-old girl at a church three years ago has been sentenced to 85 years in prison.

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William Coffey, sex offense at Raleigh church
RALEIGH, N.C. — A Zebulon man who was found guilty on Thursday of molesting a 6-year-old girl at a church three years ago has been sentenced to 85 years in prison.

William Brandon Coffey, 36, was convicted of indecent liberties with a child, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sex offense of a child.

The girl told investigators that she went to use the bathroom at Body of Christ Church, at 4501 Spring Forest Road in Raleigh, in September 2015 when Coffey picked her up and took her into the men's bathroom. While in the bathroom, Coffey pulled the girl's pants down and rubbed his genitals against her, then covered her mouth when she attempted to scream, she told police. He then kissed her and let her leave.

Coffey's father, Edward Coffey, said after his son's arrest that they were at a men's Bible study at the church when William Coffey left for a minute to fill up his water bottle.

"He came back to the meeting, and for about 40 to 45 minutes, we continued the meeting with William sitting right there," Edward Coffey said at the time. "He didn't seem disheveled, upset or anything else."

Edward Coffey said his son, who was already on the state's sex offender registry for a 2009 incident involving a 9-year-old, is mentally disabled.

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