Mobile pastor faces sex charges

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A Mobile pastor surrendered Wednesday after being accused of having sexual contact with his 14-year-old relative.

Pastor Cederick McMillan was charged with sodomy and sexual assault.

Not only is Cederick McMillan a pastor, he is also the president of the Prichard Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps the most shocking: he is the former headmaster and one of the founders of Prichard Preparatory School.

On the New Birth Community Church website visitors will find messages about the church pastor, Cederick McMillian. Mobile County Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson said Pastor McMillan has been sending messages of his own to a 14-year-old relative.

"The child’s mother became aware of some very inappropriate text messages and confronted her child about the texting, and the child went ahead and told the mother what had been going on,” said Patterson.

However, Paterson said McMillan's alleged actions are what led to his arrest.

"The crime of sex abuse and the crime of sodomy - of which he's charged - involve sexual contact and with the sodomy, refer to a specific act,” said Patterson.

FOX10 News sat down with McMillan back in 2009 when he was the headmaster at Prichard Preparatory School. Patterson said these alleged interactions were going on at the same time. While more than 40 children, grades kindergarten through third, were under his guidance.

In the interview, McMillan said he sees himself in the children he teaches.

"Many of these kids are from single parents homes [with their] mothers working two, sometimes three jobs, so I see myself everyday in these kids,” said McMillan.

Patterson said the majority of the cases she sees involve people like McMillan who are surrounded by children.

"People who are interested in victimizing children or young adults are going to put themselves in situations where they have access to children and young adults,” said Patterson.

McMillan was indicted by a grand jury in May, but because of cutbacks, he wasn't put behind bars until he turned himself in Wednesday. In the meantime, McMillan went on about his business, leading church revivals and acting as President of the Prichard Chamber of Commerce.

"We were particularly anxious to move as quickly as we could, and that's what we did,” said Patterson.

McMillan was released on bond. If he is convicted, he could see two to 20 years behind bars.