GASTONIA, N.C. -- A Bessemer City pastor stared straight ahead Monday as six women testified that he groped them when they came to his church for food.
Harley Michael Keough, 73, is the pastor at King James Baptist Church. He is on trial in Gaston County court, charged with 10 counts of sexual battery and one count of assault on a female.
The women, who are not being identified by NewsChannel 36, say the assaults all happened when they went to the food bank run by the church.
They said Keogh would take them into an area where food supplies were kept and that is where the assaults happened.
"I pushed him and told him not to do that," testified one woman. When she was asked if Keough did it again, she said, "Yes, he pulled me back and touched me again and put his hand around on my butt."
All of the women said they were shocked.
"I didn't speak. I didn't cry. I just left the building," said another woman, who said she had been touched inappropriately.
Keough was arrested in November of last year after one woman stepped forward and complained to police. After his arrest, other women came forward with similar stories.
In court, the women who did not report the assaults when they happened were asked why not.
"Didn't think anyone would believe me over a preacher, a member of the community," answered one woman.
Keough, who has denied the charges, is expected to testify in his own behalf Tuesday.
