Update 10:25 p.m., 4/28/2009:
Dan Silverman has requested that I add his statement regarding this news story.
I was never set to plead guilty to the charge against me. In fact, I pleaded no contest in order to save the accuser (a child) the trauma from having to testify in court. I had never considered pleading guilty, my lawyer had never advised me to enter a guilty plea and a guilty plea was never entered.
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Former Associate Pastor Dan Silverman of Vinton, VA, is scheduled to enter a guilty plea on charges of child sexual abuse according to court records. He has been charged with aggravated sexual battery against a 12-year-old.
According to the linked article, “Also charged from Heritage Baptist Church, is former Deacon Dead Stone. Police say Stone confessed to the congregation. Stone faces 24 charges involving sexually molesting a child over the age of 13, and two children under 13.
Investigators do not believe that any of the crimes happened at the church.”
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