Youth minister pleads not guilty to charges
By Jane Beathard
Staff Writer
A Baptist youth minister from West Jefferson was arraigned Friday in Madison County Common Pleas Court on child pornography charges.
Corey A. Wilson, 21, formerly of 916 Kirkwood Drive, pleaded not guilty to four counts of using minors in nudity-oriented material and one count of possessing criminal tools. Two counts involve pictures distributed (pandered) via a cell phone — a second-degree felony.
Assistant county prosecutor Eamon Costello said the charges stem from incidents on Feb. 13 and May 10. Wilson allegedly took nude photos of two West Jefferson-area girls age 15 and 17. Investigators said he met the girls.
During a subsequent investigation, Wilson moved to Galveston, Texas, and continued to work as a youth minister, said West Jefferson Police Chief Terry Ward.
Deputies traveled to Texas last week and returned Wilson to Ohio after the man lost an extradition fight.
Jesse Stacy was retained to represent Wilson at a Dec. 10 trial. Wilson remains in Tri-County Regional Jail under a $100,000 surety bond.
Also on Friday:
• Columbus resident Walton Eden, 51, was charged with one count of felony non-support on August 2011. Eden was previously convicted of a similar charge.
Judge Robert D. Nichols said Ohio’s current sentencing guidelines require community control for Eden, if he is convicted. The unemployed man is also required to get a job and pay the delinquent dollars.
Nichols appointed Mike Murray to represent Eden at a Dec. 10 trial. Eden was released on a signature bond.
• London resident Dustin McHenry, 27, was charged with selling the prescription painkiller Oxycodone on June 12. Because the alleged drug deal took place in the presence of a child, the charge is a third-degree felony.
Nichols appointed Fred Ballam to represent McHenry at a Dec. 10 trial and released the man on house arrest and electronic monitoring.
• Columbus resident Gary P. Benner Jr., 42, was sentenced to 20 days in jail for obstructing a London police investigation of a Jan. 20 auto accident on Madison Road.
Nichols suspended 10 days of the jail time, pending payment of court costs.
Wow. I thought it was innocent until proven guilty. While I would never condone anything that has been alleged, it’s just that…alleged. It seems it’s the church’s stand to be guilty until proven innocent. Anyone that knows Cory Wilson would have to question if this is something that you would honestly think Cory would do. I for one do not. However, I think there is a bible verse that says something like stupid is a person who responds to a matter before the facts are heard. I think everyone should take a breath and allow the facts to come to light before any conclusions are made about Cory or the alleged victims.
As Chairman of the Deacon Board at First Baptist Church I would like to assure anyone who has read this article that at NO TIME in the past, present or future has Cory Wilson held any kind of youth pastor position and/or type of leadership position in our church.
I am very relieved to hear that he is not a youth pastor.
I hope there will be some corrections to this article. Wilson was not a youth pastor in West Jefferson.