Alabama pastor now charged in 3 counties on child sex allegations involving 7-year-old girl

Alabama pastor now charged in 3 counties on child sex allegations involving 7-year-old girl

An Alabama pastor jailed earlier this month on allegations of sexual abuse of a 7-year-old girl is now facing more charges.

The Rev. Kenneth Harold Daniel, pastor at First Baptist Church of Chalkville, was charged in Blount County with facilitating solicitation of unlawful sexual conduct with a child.

Daniel now is facing charges in Shelby and Jefferson County counties involving the same victim, Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon confirmed Friday.

He is charged in Shelby County with four counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 with bonds totaling $240,000.

Alabaster police obtained the warrants against Daniel. Chief Curtis Rigney said the alleged abuse took place between 2020 through September of this year.

The chief said Daniel was friends with the girl’s grandparents from church and would have the girl come stay with him at his Alabaster home.

Daniel is also charged in Jefferson County with sex abuse by force and sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 in Jefferson County. Those charges stem from allegations of abuse taking place at Daniel’s church.

According to the Blount County charging documents against Daniel, the investigation began when the victim told her grandfather that Daniel had been sexually abusing her.

The girl reported that Daniel had touched her numerous times on her private parts and that it had happened at his residence, a pool party and at the church between 2020 and September.

The victim and her grandfather live in Blount County. Blount County authorities arrested Daniel at the church.

“Daniel contacted the grandfather by phone for arrangements to bring the victim to the locations of disclosed sexual abuse,’’ records state.

Daniel also provided the grandfather with directions to those locations.

Daniel remains held in the Blount County Jail.