Youth Pastor David J. Baird was sentenced to a long stretch in prison because he violated a sacred trust. By day he was a trusted youth pastor who helped guide troubled youths toward college and a better life. By night he molested young boys.
An East Hills boy was the first of the three to come forward, saying the assaults began when he was 9 or 10 years old, and Mr. Baird assaulted him 20 to 40 times over the years. After the first victim went public, two more came forward.
All three testified that after Mr. Baird assaulted them, he would begin to cry and ask for forgiveness, and then they would pray together.
Several of Mr. Baird's friends and family members -- more than 30 were in the courtroom -- wept after Judge Zottola announced his sentence. For two rape convictions, Mr. Baird was sentenced to 10 to 20 years, plus five to 10 years for indecent assault.
Yikes, what a monster. How many children did he molest over the years? Four have come forward. There could be many more.
Pastor Baird was the youth minister at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.
