Benton Harbor pastor sentenced in sex abuse case

Jacquelyne Prather grew up in the Straight Gate Pentecostal Church in Benton Harbor, under pastor Leroy Lane Jr.

The first red flag came after Prather says she was inappropriately touched by her teacher.

“My mom took me to Leroy’s office," said Prather. "And he told me, his words were, ‘well, this could ruin this man’s reputation, and he could lose his job.’ Nothing was done.”

But after that Leroy Lane began grooming Prather.

“He quoted, like, ‘the bible said to greet you with the holy kiss,’ then he proceeded to kiss me on the lips.”

Prather was 15.

“And I never said anything because nothing was done the first time.”

A few years later Prather was on her own and Lane helped her out with an apartment in Benton Harbor.

“Since he got the apartment, he needed a spare key.”

Court documents show Lane came over at least twice, unannounced, with a gun, and forced himself on Prather.

Prather was left with unseen scars.

“I tried to numb the pain and make myself disappear.”

lane eventually pleaded guilty to his crimes, revealing his history of abuse to his congregation, which included Deacon Curtis Sherrod.

 “If we’re going to call ourselves Christians, there’s no way we can allow the type of things that went on in that ministry to be accepted as normal,” said Sherrod.

he says Lane was grooming many of the girls in his congregation, unbenownst to him.

“That was the culture, said Sherrod. "You don’t say anything against the leader, because he’s an upright, upstanding man of God.”

A man of God going to trial, but then

“You have two victims who were willing to testify on the stand, but a month before trial, you let him submit a plea,” said Prather

"This plea deal is, I feel like it's very unfair, " said Prather. "If he does get the max time, that still doesn't even equal out to the damage that was done. It's justice but not justice."

Still, Prather would make sure her story was told.

“Everybody that’s on his side wants to intimidate you. And one thing I’m not going to do now is I’m not going to be intimidated. I’m going to say what I need to say, and I'm going to say it with my head up and my chest out now.”

Prather gave a victim impact statement at lane's sentencing hearing Monday.

“I just want, like, the closure of it, and I want other victims to know that they aren’t alone.”

Prather is now a member of the Texas National Guard. A dream she says the church rejected. So Monday, while facing her abuser, Prather wore her full military uniform.

“Everything I’ve always wanted to do then. Yeah, it’s like, I’m doing it late now, but I’m doing it now, but I’m having a heck of a good time.”

In court, Land even tried to apologize.

He was sentenced to five years probation and a laundry list of special conditions, but no jail time.

“You didn’t lose anything. You really didn’t. Yet we’re still out here fighting for our lives every day. Every day. Because a smell, a phrase, a familiar face, a feature, can trigger everything that’s in a victim’s mind.”

His sentence was a blow to Prather and Sherrod. Looking for hope, knowing this pastor is now a convicted predator.

 “For once and for all, be a man, and stop hiding behind the church,” said Sherrod

 “Even though it may be too late for the court system, but for you to get your story out, you never know who else you’re helping,” said Prather.