Eufaula minister charged with child pornography
BY JERRY FINK World Correspondent
Monday, December 17, 2012
EUFAULA — A 78-year-old minister is free on $10,000 bond after being charged in McIntosh County District Court Monday with possession of child pornography.
Lawmen arrested Charles Saviers Friday afternoon after allegedly finding pictures of at least two teenage boys on a computer as well as on paper.
Associate District Judge Jim Pratt entered a not guilty plea on Saviers’ behalf and ordered a pre-preliminary hearing to be held at 9 a.m. March 20.
Assistant District Attorney Crieg Rittenhouse asked Pratt to order Savier to stay away from any boys under 18, at least for the time being.
The judge agreed.
Saviers is listed on the United Methodist Church website as pastor of a church in Alderson, a town of about 260 residents five miles east of McAlester.
He is also listed with the Lake Eufaula United Ministry, an organization that supplies lay ministers for church services for campers at lake area campsites during the summer months.
A search warrant was issued for Saviers’ home in the Eagle Bluff development southeast of Eufaula last week after two teenagers — who were not associated with the photographs — reportedly found the pictures.
“They were young boys doing odd jobs around his residence and they came across some child porn and turned it over to law enforcement,” said Det. Tanya French, with the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office.
She said Saviers, who is a widower, lives alone. He was not home when the boys made their discovery.
“When he found out the kids had taken the pictures he contacted them and attempted to get them back,” French said.
She said the Sheriff’s Office and police officers from Checotah and Eufaula participated in the search.
“He came home while they were searching the house,” French said.
French said she is trying to interview the alleged victims, who live in McAlester, but as of Monday evening had not been able to contact them or their families.
She said there may be other victims and if so she encourages them to contact her at the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office at 918-689-2526.
Associated Images:
Charles Saviers
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