By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
An investigation that started in Atmore and is still ongoing here has resulted in the indictment and arrest in Monroeville of a minister who pastors churches in both cities.
According to an article in last week’s Monroe Journal, Garyl Jermaine Gibbs, 47, of Monroeville was arrested after being indicted on one count of first-degree sodomy and two counts of second-degree sodomy.
The indictment was based on evidence that Gibbs, who is pastor of Call to Life Apostolic Church in Monroeville and on Alabama 21 in Atmore (near Wind Creek), “engaged in deviant sexual intercourse with another person who was less than 16 years of age but older than 12 years of age,” and that at least twice he “engaged in deviant sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion.”
Alabama Code Section 13A-6-60 defines sex by forcible compulsion as sexual intercourse involving “physical force that overcomes earnest resistance or a threat, express or implied, that places a person in fear of immediate death or serious physical injury to himself or another person.”
First-degree sodomy is a Class A felony, punishable upon conviction by a prison term of at least 10 years and up to 99 years. A person convicted of such a crime can also be fined up to $60,000. Sodomy in the second degree is a Class B felony, punishable upon conviction by a prison term of 2 to 20 years, with a possible fine of up to $30,000.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said his agency took the original complaint, then passed on its preliminary investigative results to Monroeville police, since the crime reportedly took place there. Also, the alleged perpetrator and victim, who was a member of Gibbs’ congregation, both live in that city.
Brooks said the probe by APD detectives is ongoing, with more charges pending the outcome.
“It started over here,” he said of the criminal investigation. “We got a call that there was a victim at Atmore Community Hospital. We went out and obtained a statement from the victim, then contacted Monroeville. APD is investigating similar claims here but the investigation is not complete yet. He may be facing additional, similar charges here and elsewhere.”
According to the Monroeville newspaper, Gibbs is free on $75,000 bond.