ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY (WSLS 10) - The Buena Vista pastor convicted on multiple counts of molesting children received the maximum sentence for his crimes Monday.Â
Larry Clark was found guilty by a jury of his peers in October, and Monday, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
The former pastor's family members maintain he is not a molestor.
"We will continue to believe in his innocence we know he is innocent" said Dorcas Bennett, Clark's sister. "We believe in God and we believe God will take care of this."
READ MORE ABOUT THE CASE AGAINST LARRY CLARK
Clark was found guilty on charges including indecent liberties with a child in October. Clark plead not guilty to all six charges against him. More than a dozen witnesses, including people who went to the Pentecostal Outreach Church in Buena Vista, members of the youth group, the victim, victim's mother and investigators all testified.Â
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Prosecutors argued Clark showed no remorse when convicted. During sentencing, lawyers asked the judge to consider the damage Clark caused the victim, the victim's family and the community.
"It interrupts that fabric of trust. The people who go to church and want to trust their pastor and want to believe these are good people" Christopher Billias, Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney for Rockbridge County/ Lexington City.
In addition to the Pentecostal Outreach Church, Clark also oversaw five other churches in the area.
A victim testified during the trial through closed-circuit TV and said Larry Clark touched him and sometimes things went further.
Clark was charged with three counts of indecent liberties with a child and three counts of carnal knowledge. The alleged incidents happened between September 1, 2011 and August 25, 2013.
There are two other alleged victims whose cases were not allowed to be brought up during this trial. Those cases will be tried separately.