CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte pastor who was previously convicted of indecent liberties with children is facing new charges after more victims came forward, police announced Friday.
Robert "Bobby" Price, 56, was arrested early Friday morning by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police on warrants that he had inappropriately touched children from 2001 to 2011. Price was charged with 13 counts of indecent liberties with a minor and one count of statutory sexual offense.
Capt. Jim Wright said three victims came forward and reported that Price abused them when they were between 9 and 15 years old. The victims identified Price as the suspect and told detectives that he abused them at King's Way Baptist Church in Concord, where he served as a youth pastor. That's how he met the victims, according to CMPD.
The victims said Price abused them in his vehicle while he was taking them to and from church. One of the incidents happened at the church in Concord, Wright alleged.
Price was convicted in 2014 of indecent liberties with a child, according to CMPD investigators. He currently serves as an associate pastor at Camino Church in northeast Charlotte. Before that, he was a pastor at Kings Way Baptist Church in Concord.
When asked why Price was allowed to be working in a church setting after his conviction, Wright said CMPD believed some members of the family-run church knew about his history.
"We're always concerned about the high rate of reoffending, but just because you're a sex offender doesn't mean you can't attend church," Wright said.
Robert Price, CEO of Camino, told WCNC Charlotte he knew about his brother's past. He said the organization wasn't trying to hide anything so a lot of people at Camino knew about it as well.
"We believe when people have failure in their life, there is life after that," the senior pastor said.
A spokesperson for Camino said the phrase "We recycle" is a value embedded in everything the group does. Price said they exist to give people a second chance. He said his brother abided by the church's tight policies and was employed within the parameters of his parole. He was not around minors.
"As an organization, we will continue to work to be a place of integrity but also grace, to be a place of transparency but also not sell people out because of things in their past," Price said. It's just a very delicate balance."
Price said he did not talk to his brother since the arrest Friday morning. He admitted their mother is having a hard time with the news. He added he did not hear of any complaint about Robert's time at Camino since he started in 2018.
According to Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office website, Price was released Friday before 6 p.m. on a $50,000 bond.
Detectives are asking anyone who may be a victim of Price's to come forward. Anyone with information about Price's alleged crimes is asked to call 704-336-7495 to speak directly with Detective Carey. Witnesses may also call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Note: WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.