Pastor Ivory McDaniels was arrested the week before Christmas and charged with four counts of second degree sexual assault involving minors. Specifically, he is alleged to have touch four girls inappropriately while working as a substitute teacher at Fordyce High School in Arkansas.
Fordcyce is a small city of about about 4,799 people, and about 17 significant churches, of which 14 are Baptist. Pastor Ivory “touchy” McDaniels is pastor at Greenville Baptist Church.
As can be expected, the community is in an uproar.
The allegations have rocked the city of Fordyce and have left the community divided: those who say they support Pastor McDaniels and those who are outraged by the accusations. The story is so controversial that those who did speak out about it only did so under the condition of anonymity.
One resident said, "It's sad and it's a disgrace to the community." Another had this reaction, "He's very known. I went to his church for almost a year. He deal(s) with all the kids. A lot of people looked up to him."
The townsfolk are circling the wagons to protect their pastor down in quiet little Fordcyce. Sorry folks. It’s too late. Word of the McDaniels scandal has made it out all the way out to Southern California. Don’t you just love the internet?
