Photo: Orange County Jail
A popular Florida pastor is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl — and he allegedly admitted to the allegations in a taped phone call.
“[T]here was never anything salacious or bad about it and you were always too damn mature for your own good and I have always loved you,”Rev. Bryan George Fulwider told his accuserin a recorded phone call, according to theOrlando Sentinel. “It wasn’t like I was off hunting people. It was a connection.”
The victim, who has not been identified, told police she was a juvenile at the time.
The 59-year-old is a well-known personality in Central Florida. He is co-founder and host of the weekly radio show ‘Friends Talking Faith’ and last year, along with his co-hosts, was a finalist for theSentinel’s 2018 Central Floridian of the Year award. (The show has since gone on an indefinite hiatus following Fulwider’s arrest.)
• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Clickhereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.
According to an arrest affidavit, most of the abuse happened on the church’s property, according to theSentinel.
He told the victim if she was contacted she could say whatever she wanted but she could also say the allegations were false, adding, “that for me would be the best thing.”
Fulwider then told the victim she would be considered “quote the victim.”
Police fear there could be more victims, but in the recorded phone call Fulwider allegedly told his victim she was the only one.
“They could line up every female related to the church and if everyone… except for one… told the absolute truth, they would have zero,” he said in the phone call, according to the affidavit.
“Do you mean me?” she asked.
“Well, yeah,” he said, according to theSentinel.
Fulwider’s attorney could not be reached for comment Friday but denied the allegations against his client to theSentinel, stating, “First, you are presuming a statement in a police report is true, which is not how our system of justice works…Second, time and time again, we see servants to the community attacked and reputations tarnished with baseless allegations — this must stop. Finally, and most importantly, there is no factual evidence to support any of these meritless claims.”
Anyone with knowledge regarding Fulwider or believes they have been a victim of his is urged to contact the Winter Park Police Department at (407) 599-3211.
source: people.com
