Published: July 03, 2009 04:19 pm      

Former minister charged with rape, abuse

A Richmond city building inspector and former youth minister has been indicted by an Anderson County grand jury on six counts of third-degree rape, five counts of third-degree sodomy, one count of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of second-degree sexual abuse.

Gordon H. Lunceford, 47, of the 1000 block of Walnut Grove Circle, is accused of molesting two victims between February and November of 1992, according to court records obtained by The Anderson News in Lawrenceburg and provided to the Register.

The victims in the indictment were both under 16 years of age, but are identified only by initials.

Lunceford is a former youth minister at churches in Anderson, Franklin and Madison counties, according to Kentucky State Police.

A Gordon Lunceford served as a youth minister at First Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg in 1992, church employees told The Anderson News.

The Rev. Bill Fort, pastor of First Baptist Church on the Eastern Bypass in Richmond, said Lunceford was interim youth director “for a very short time” about two years ago.

Fort said there were no complaints or accusations against Lunceford during the brief time he worked with youth at First Baptist.

A member of Rosedale Baptist Church said Lunceford had once worked with the church’s youth group, but attempts Friday to reach two of the church’s trustees were unsuccessful.

Lunceford posted a $10,000 cash bond and was released from the Franklin County Regional Jail after he surrendered to authorities on June 5, jail officials said Friday.

He is employed by the city of Richmond as a building inspector, but has taken personal leave and has not been on the job recently, according to City Manager David Evans.

Evans said he learned of Lunceford’s indictment Thursday evening through the news media and would “take a look at this” on Tuesday.

City Hall will be closed Monday for the Independence Day holiday.

Lunceford is scheduled for a pretrial conference in Anderson Circuit Court on July 21.

If convicted, Lunceford could receive one to five years in prison on each of the rape and sodomy charges as well as the first-degree sexual abuse charge, which are all Class D felonies. Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by 12 months in jail if convicted.

State police Detective Luke VanHoose, of Post 12 in Frankfort, is investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Post 12 at 1-502-227-2221.

An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt.



Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.

Bill Robinson may be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.