Pastor indicted for alleged rape

JOHNSTON COUNTY The Johnston County magistrates' office told ABC11 Eyewitness News Joseph Kennedy Ragland, former pastor of the Church of God in Christ Jesus in Angier, is charged with two counts of second-degree forcible sex offense, two counts of sex offense by a custodian, two counts of crimes against nature, second-degree rape, and rape by a custodian.

He was charged on Nov. 2, and his bond was set at $200,000.

The charges against Ragland are from an April incident when he was pastor at the church. The 47-year-old was initially charged with sex crimes and accused of raping a 16-year-old member of his church.

The girl reportedly went to his Willow Springs home on April 11, and he allegedly gave her beer and then assaulted her.

Click here to read details about the alleged incident

She reported the incident on April 12 after undergoing treatment at WakeMed, according to the Johnston County Sheriff's Office.

In April, authorities jailed and released Ragland under a $35,000 bond. He was charged with second-degree rape, second-degree sex offense, and sex offense -- parental role.

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