Thomas Archie Wiggins Jr. (Source: New Hanover County Sheriff's Office)WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – A preacher from Wilmington, who was charged with five counts of indecent liberties with a minor, has been put on administrative leave by his church.
Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. and the Church of God in Christ's General Board announced Thursday that Pastor Thomas A. Wiggins, Jr. has been suspended from all pastoral and superintendent duties for the North Carolina Jurisdiction.
Supt. George W. Davis, Jr. will assume the duties under the leadership of Jurisdictional Bishop Cornelius Anderson, Sr.
The 54-year-old pastor made a confession recently regarding the five counts of first degree sex offenses and five counts of indecent liberties with a minor that officials say took place in 1998.
The charges reportedly stem from allegations of a boy who was 14 years old at the time of the incident. According to prosecutors, another witness came forward since the story made headlines.
The General Board released this statement: "The Church of God in Christ has a zero tolerance policy for sexual misconduct."
The national church said that no further comment will be made until the matter has completed its course through the legal system.
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