The victim in the case, a girl who was under the age of 16 when the alleged offenses occurred, wept openly as Freeman disclosed her findings. She embraced her father, who she sat with in a small auxiliary courtroom in Halifax.

Freeman's ruling came after a closed probable cause hearing in district court Wednesday, the matter closed because of the sensitive nature of the case and the victim was under age at the time of the alleged offense.

Neither Halifax County Assistant District Attorney Norlan Graves or Meinsen's attorney, Geoffrey Davis, had objections to Freeman's decision being made in open court.

The judge said after careful review of the closed testimony given in the case there is probable cause to believe the offense of indecent liberties with a child occurred and enough evidence to bound the matter over to superior court.

“I'm just glad the judge saw the evidence in the case,” the girl's father said afterward. “It's been very emotional. My daughter has suffered. It's been a struggle every day.”

He said the family has not been back to Meinsen's church, New Life Church of Christ on East Tenth Street, since the minister was charged in June.

He said the family will now wait to hear when the matter goes to superior court.

Documents filed in the case show Lieutenant Joseph Sealey of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office reportedly found evidence the minister, “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did take and attempt to take immoral, improper and indecent liberties” with the victim in the case — a girl who was under the age of 16.

The arrest warrant continues that Meinsen, 47 at the time of his arrest, allegedly did so “for the purpose of arousing and gratifying sexual desire. All the time the defendant was over 16 years of age and at least five years older” than the child.

Sealey declined comment afterward.