Guilty plea entered in statutory rape case

December 9, 2005

Patti Dozier The Times Enterprise Fri Dec 09, 2005, 12:01 PM EST

THOMASVILLE -- A church youth minister charged with child molestation entered a guilty plea Wednesday to statutory rape.

Roderick Suber, 25, youth minister at Faith Horizons Ministries at the time of his September 2004 arrest, wore a tie with the Lord's Prayer on it to Thomas County Superior Court Wednesday.

Suber was in court for a pretrial proceeding when he entered the plea.

Judge Harry Jay Altman set sentencing for 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 24, at the Jail-Justice Center courtroom.

The Thomas County Sheriff's Department received information from a school counselor in late September 2004, that a student, 16, had a sexual relationship with a youth pastor.

Investigators contacted Suber and asked him to report to the Jail-Justice Center for an interview. He was arrested during questioning.

Jeff Christopher, church pastor at the time, and his wife, Cindy Christopher, co-pastor, said Suber would remain as youth minister.

Suber was the Christophers' son-in-law.

The Christopers could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Suber was indicted in February on statutory rape and two counts of child molestation.

Sheriff's department Capt. John Richards said last year an investigation by his agency and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation showed Suber inappropriately touched the girl and had sexual intercourse with her during overnight youth gatherings at the suspect's house and during a church camping trip.

The incidents occurred at least three times, Richards said.

In an interview at the time of the arrest, the church pastor said no one in the church is allowed to be alone with the opposite sex. "Because that's not proper etiquette in the ministry," his wife interjected.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.