BESSEMER CITY, N.C. -- A church pastor accused of groping women who came to his congregation for help said Sunday he is the target of false allegations manufactured by people who are disgruntled by the amount of donations they received.
Michael Keough, pastor of King James Baptist Church in Bessemer City, told NewsChannel 36 he looks forward to proving his innocence in court following his arrest Friday on five counts of sexual battery.
Gaston County Police said the charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred over a three-year period from September 2006 through October 2009.
Investigators said the crimes involve five women between the ages of 23 and 46, all of whom claimed they were groped by Keough as they were seeking assistance from the church's food bank.
Keough, 72, said he has been a minister at Gaston county churches for 40 years.
He said some of his accusers are angry with him because they were turned away after seeking an unreasonable amount of additional groceries from the congregation.
Another woman, according to Keough, is attempting to retaliate after he made some comments about her boyfriend's ethnicity.
Keough told NewsChannel 36 he made the racially insensitive remarks during a conversation in which he expressed concern that the woman's children were not receiving proper care from her partner.
He said the arrest and subsequent news reports are "sinking" his ministry and could prompt the end of the grocery giveaways.
Members of the church helped post the $50,000 bond to free their spirtual leader from jail following his arrest.
Keough led Sunday morning worship service as scheduled. His first court appearance was expected Monday afternoon.
