Kentucky Injury Lawyer Blog

A Western Kentucky Preacher, Prince Wilbert Woolfolk, is scheduled to be tried on charges that he raped and sexually assaulted a teenager 25 years ago. He was indicted on the charges in 2008. The rape and sexual assault allegedly occurred sometime between November 1981 and February 1984, while he was preaching at Seventh Street Church of God in Owensboro. The preacher is presently 77 years old. The mother of the victim was 17 at the time the alleged rape and sexual assault occurred. The case was reported to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in July 2007. In 2008, the Preacher, who was then preaching in Madisonville, Kentucky, resigned his post as pastor of that church.

Attorney Brent T. Ackerson , a partner in the firm of Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones, stated: “I handle cases like this, and it is a tragedy when a person of authority and influence with young people takes advantage of that position and trust to sexually violate a young person. The emotional scars from these types of sexual assaults and rapes never go away.” Offenders who use their positions of trust and influence over young people include everything from preachers, to coaches, to teachers. They use their positions to prey upon the weaknesses of young people who trust and look up to them.

Many times these types of cases go unreported for extensive periods of time due to the shame that the young person feels. Additionally the sexual offender many times makes the victim feel as if the sexual assault or rape was the fault of the young person. These young people are forced to carry this emotional burden, which has long term effects upon their lives. These victims have rights. They need help and therapy, and the offenders should be brought to justice their offenses.

For more information on the rights of people, including young people and children, who have been raped or sexually assaulted, contact Brent Ackerson directly at (502) 587-2002 or email Brent. (Click here to email Brent).