Youth pastor sentenced in sex abuse case

WAVY News, Virginia/September 9, 2013

By Catherine Rogers

Virginia Beach, Virginia -- A former Chesapeake pastor was sentenced Monday for sexually abusing three teens.

41-year-old Gregory Douglas Forehand was arrested in 2012 and charged with five counts custodial indecent liberties with a child after police received information from a victim.

Detectives learned Forehand victimized three teens between 1999 and 2006 while he was the youth pastor and then head pastor at Real Life Christian Church. A detective with the Chesapeake Police Department told WAVY.com children would often stay at Forehand's home during church events.

On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Edward Hanson sentenced Forehand to 15 years in prison -- 10 suspended, five to serve, according to Macie E. Pridgen with the Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. The sentence, according to Pridgen, is much higher than the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines, which recommend a sentence of three to six months in jail.

When released, Forehand will be required to register as a sex offender, be on supervised probation, and must be on good behavior for 10 years.

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