RFP Staff
♦ Benjamin Ross Hollifield, 26, of Buck Board Lane in Salisbury and a former youth pastor and outreach minister at Piedmont Baptist Church in Kannapolis, was convicted of sex crimes with a 13-year-old girl this week in Rowan County Superior Court presided over by Judge Joseph N. Crosswhite. Hollifield was convicted of 7 counts of statutory rape/sex offense (felony), 4 counts of indecent liberties with a minor (felony), and first degree sex exploitation of a minor (felony).
Judge Crosswhite sentenced Hollifield to a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 23 years. Hollifield was ordered by the court to register as a sex offender.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Hollifield in mid-April 2015. When questioned by Sheriff’s Office detectives Hollifield admitted he began texting a 13-year-old girl at his church. Hollifield knew it was inappropriate and that the Holy Spirit told him to stop. However, he and the teen discussed kissing.
Hollifield acknowledged that while working at the church in January 2015, he and the 13-year-old kissed and continued to text each other. Before long their activities led to sexual intercourse.
Hollifield told detectives the first time he had sex with the teen was after choir practice at church. He also acknowledged having pornographic photos on his phone and told detectives he understood the girl was only 13 which was wrong.
It is not uncommon to find those who sexually prey on children finding employment with youth in schools, churches, youth choirs, after school venues, playgrounds, libraries, and children’s clothing shops. To learn more about sex offenders read:
N.C. REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER PROGRAM GUIDEBOOK
A previous Rowan Free Press Article concerning Benjamin Ross Hollifield and his being charged with sex crimes:
