Neighbors describe accused minister as a family man

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Updated: 1/03 8:30 pm
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- David Lawson is a father, a family man, and now, an accused child molester.

"I don't believe it," said his neighbor, George E. Miller.  Lawson worked as a student minister at Christ's Church on Greenland Road.  "He has a family," said Miller.  "He loves his little girl. Got a little 3-year-old girl."

The church wouldn't comment on the case, only telling Action News only that Lawson has been fired as a result of his arrest.  Police say Lawson's victim was just 15 years old. And they say he has confessed to the crime.

"That's a real shocker," said Miller.  "Because he's a great family man as far as I'm concerned."

Lawson was arrested Wednesday after a two-week investigation.  He's charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation.  Police say he has threatened suicide, and has since been Baker Acted at the Duval County Jail.

According to Lawson's Facebook page, he's worked at Christ's Church since 2006.  It says he worked with 5th through 12th graders.  No word if he met the victim at the church.








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JudyJones - 1/4/2013 1:54 PM
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So let's hope that every person who saw, suspected or may have been harmed by David Wayne Lawson, will find the courage and strength to speak up and contact police, no matter how long ago the abuse happened. Keep in mind that child predators rarely have only one victim. And your silence only hurts, and by speaking up there is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and therefore protecting others. Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA, 636-433-2511. snapjudy@gmail.com, "SNAP (The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) is the world's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 12,000 members. Despite the word priest in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, teachers, Protestant ministers and increasingly, victims who were assaulted in a wide range of institutional settings like orphanages, summer camps, athletic programs, Boy Scouts, etc."

BobSchwiderski - 1/4/2013 1:14 PM
0 Votes
Here’s a list of 225 accused clerics, nuns and staff. http://mnsnap.wordpress.com/spooks-fakers-false-spiritual-healers/ Bob Schwiderski, Minnesota SNAP Director. Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. 952-471-3422 or skibrs@q.com. http://mnsnap.wordpress.com/

BobSchwiderski - 1/4/2013 1:13 PM
0 Votes
Wichasha, Winyan - Chincá are in harm's way! (Mother, Father - your children are in harm’s way!) A video look at how the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Mpls keeps Native American children in harm’s way: --- http://youtu.be/r5glYmmLPzY Accused: Deacon Joe Damiani http://mnsnap.wordpress.com/child-protection-alert-damiani Bob Schwiderski, Minnesota SNAP Director. Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. 952-471-3422 or skibrs@q.com. http://mnsnap.wordpress.com/

nativejax - 1/3/2013 6:31 PM
0 Votes
They ALL make you think they are a 'family' man. THAT'S where MOST molesters get started. You better bring his little girl in to a professional to see if she was being assaulted too. These COWARDS always make sure they have wives, neighbors and church friends that only see his 'good' side' so he can to make his victims out a liar and get away with his filthy immoral actions against a child.
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