Long Island pastor, 71, accused of sexually abusing 15-year-old girl in church basement

Authorities in Suffolk County have brought charges against a 71-year-old Long Island pastor accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in a church basement. According to the New York Post, the Suffolk County Police Department said Clinton Bucknor allegedly molested the victim at the Huntington Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Bucknor is said to have sexually abused the 15-year-old girl in the church basement in March. Authorities also said the teen received an inappropriate text message and photo from Bucknor. The 71-year-old was ultimately arrested after the victim’s sister contacted police on Wednesday, authorities said.

Bucknor faces a slew of charges including criminal solicitation, sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. His arraignment is set for Friday, May 10.

In 2019, a similar incident occurred in Brooklyn when a pastor at the Progressive Baptist Church of Brownsville was arrested for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female relative.

According to PIX11 News, Matthew Gibson, who is the son of the bishop of the church, was arrested on charges of criminal sex abuse and forcible touching of a female victim between the ages of 9 and 14. The New York Post reported that the abuse, which occurred between 2013 and 2017, started right after the victim’s mother died. The victim told the police Gibson sexually abused her in different rooms in the church.