Controversial Georgia pastor, political activist arrested for child molestation

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia pastor and and conservative political activist was arrested Friday morning on charges of child molestation and aggravated child molestation.

Ken Adkins, 56, of St. Simons Island turned himself into police at about 9 a.m., according to officials with Georgia Bureau of Investigation. 

READ KENNETH ADKINS' CRIMINAL ARREST WARRANT

GBI was requested on Aug. 12 to assist officials with the accusations against Adkins.

Adkins is currently in the Glynn County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.

"I know nothing more about the allegations than what has been reported in the news, but it sickens me. If he is found to have done what he stands accused of, he deserves the fullest punishment the law allows," said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.

Adkins has one church with locations in Brunswick, Jacksonville and Atlanta, according to his website.

His wife, Charlotte "Stormy" Adkins, defended her husband in a statement Friday, calling the arrest "A rush to judgment by law enforcement." She added that the charges "Are false and that he will ultimately be cleared of any wrongdoing."

Charlotte Adkins said her husband "has asked to be placed on unpaid leave" from the Greater Dimensions Christian Fellowship, and that she had assumed position of acting pastor.

Adkins recently came under fire when he tweeted "homosexuals got what they deserved" after the deadly mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub. His Twitter account has been set to private. 

Adkins' controversial campaign against the expansion of Jacksonville's Human Rights Ordinance to protect the LGBT community was waged mostly on social media. Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri, who led efforts to expand the HRO, said he nearly sued Adkins when the pastor created pornographic images using Hazouri's image and posted them online.

"If he's guilty of this, not just shame on him, not just being a hypocrite, but also doing stuff going against the grain about what he's been preaching about," Hazouri said on Friday.

Adkins is set to appear in court on Monday at 2 p.m.

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