Brookings Congregation Deals with Aftermath of Sex Crime

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — A Brookings church is trying to cope with the conviction of a former pastor who sexually abused a girl.

Thirty-eight-year-old Timothy Bariteau was sentenced this week to serve eight years in prison for having sexual contact with a child younger than 16 in the spring of 2014 when he was one of the pastors at Morningside Community Church in Brookings.

The church is now named Abundant Life. Lead Pastor Joe Ganahl tells the Capital Journal that the church is trying to minister to "everyone involved" in the sex crime.

Ganahl says the crime was an isolated incident, but it's still been a difficult time for the church. He says the congregation has had several meetings to talk about what happened.

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