Adair County, Kentucky Preacher Accused of Sexual Abuse
Carlos Mendez-Almendra, an Adair County, Kentucky preacher, has been accused of abusing four women that were members of his congregation. Carlos Mendez-Almendra of Columbia has been charged with first-degree sexual abuse and intimidating a witness in the legal process. The four female victims are between 18 to 37 and apparently the assaults were going on as far back as September of 2000 and continuing to as recently as April of this year.
Records state that Mendez-Almendra is accused of going to the alleged victims' homes or inviting them to his for prayer. The women have accused him of assaulting them and one alleges that he forced her to have sex. The victims all reported, according to court records, that Mendez-Almendra told them not to tell anyone about the incidents and threatened them. One of the alleged victims, according to court records, claims that Mendez-Almendra said he would kill her with a knife and also kill her husband if she told anyone.
Nathan Williams, an attorney and Taylor County native, said, "It is truly unfortunate to see a preacher who has abused his position of respect and trust with his congregation to take advantage of young women in this manner. It appears that this has been going on for quite some time and I hope that justice ultimately prevails."
