WARSAW, Va. — A pastor who lives in South Carolina was arrested on 30 sex charges last month stemming from an investigation into incidents at a school in the Northern Neck of Virginia, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office said.
Albert Benjamin Wharton was charged with 22 felony counts of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 13 while in a custodial position and eight felony counts of aggravated sexual assault, according to Richmond County Sheriff Stephan Smith, who made a Facebook video detailing the arrest.
Wharton was arrested on Dec. 8 with help from the FBI and the Pickens County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina. His charges were the result of a 15-month investigation into incidents that occurred from 1981 to 1997 at Berachah Academy in Warsaw.
Wharton has since been released on a $25,000 bond with the conditions of good behavior, electronic home monitoring and no contact with alleged victims or any juvenile. He also can't supervise children in any way, and will not attend, lead or pastor any church or religious association during pending of bond.
He has served several churches in Virginia, South Carolina and Florida over the past four decades, according to Smith.
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information relevant to the investigation to call 804-333-3611.