“I think it had a lot to do with him being a leader in the community,” the jury’s foreperson said of New Life Church of Christ minister Billy Meinsen afterward. “It came down to him being one of the leaders in the community and a minister. I feel bad for both families.”
The foreperson said the feeling of the jury was “if you let it happen once it will happen again. In taking that role in the community you need to set an example.”
With the guilty verdict, Superior Court Judge J.C. Cole gave Meinsen, of Roanoke Rapids, a 13- to 25-month prison sentence.
Meinsen’s attorney, Geoffrey Davis, said his client will also have to register as a sex offender at the end of his sentence. Davis gave notice of appeal following the sentence. Proceedings in the appeal will be handled by a public defender.
Davis told Cole Meinsen met with leaders of the church located on Tenth Street today in preparing for the outcome of the trial. “He told them he would submit his resignation immediately if he was found guilty. That’s it for his career.”
Meinsen declined to make a statement when Cole asked if he wished to do so.
Assistant District Attorney Keith Werner told the judge the state would accept whatever sentence he decided. “Again, I don’t think the defense understood this was a crime committed in secret. The reason for the charge is older people should know better. He should have known better because of the position he held. This type of behavior is not going to be tolerated in the state of North Carolina, especially Halifax County.”
Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp, whose detective, Lieutenant Joseph Sealey, investigated the case, said the jury has spoken and the investigation showed indecent liberties with a child occurred. “It shows a 40-year-old man kissed a 15-year-old girl on the neck to the earlobe while pulling her in his lap.”
Tripp was appreciative of the DA’s Office, the investigation by Sealey and the jurors “in giving the family some type of closure. My prayers go out to the little girl and her family.”
Said the sheriff: “The verdict sends a message we will not tolerate any such actions in Halifax County.”
“It’s a cruel, cruel world for children,” Cole said before determining the sentence. “To me it’s all about family. It’s up to you to protect the children you have.”
Cole said there had to be a separation of church and court in the case. “This is man’s court. I’m in support of a man of God apologizing to the family.”
The family collectively said following the proceedings, which began Tuesday, they were relieved.
“I’m relieved my family can get back together,” the victim’s father said. “We have a new baby on the way and my daughter can go to college. We can start living our life and celebrating our new life. Justice has been served.”
The family was particularly appreciative of Cole, Sealey and the sheriff’s office.
The verdict today, family members said, ends a two-year ordeal that began with Meinsen’s arrest in the summer of 2014 for an act which occurred on January 29 the same year when the victim, who is now 17, was 15, and the minister was 47. “We’ve been through hell the last two years,” one family member said. “We had to change our lives completely.”
One family member said she was proud of the way the victim handled herself on the stand. “She handled herself with dignity.”