Pastor found guilty after reaching up the skirt of church member seeking spiritual counseling

SUTTON, W.Va (WDTV/Gray News) - A pastor has been found guilty of sexually motivated battery.

Jason Allen, 53, the pastor of Victory Apostolic Church in West Virginia, reached under the skirt of a 24-year-old woman and touched her leg and thigh while he was alone with her to counsel her on spiritual issues, according to prosecutors.

During the trial, Allen claimed the victim was a liar and made up the story, but in a video-recorded interview he told officers he had touched the victim’s leg during a counseling session to feel a “scar” on her calf.

According to the Braxton County prosecuting attorney’s office, Allen said he might have touched her leg further up. He also said the victim gave him permission to touch her, but she disputed that.

Allen will be sentenced on May 27 and faces up to one year in jail. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.