GLENDALE : Pastor Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Charges
A Pasadena clergyman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he sexually molested a 15-year-old girl at her Glendale home over a two-month period.
The Rev. George Nathan Bolden Jr., 33, of Altadena entered his plea before Pasadena Superior Court Judge Terry Smerling, who set a Nov. 17 pretrial conference.
Bolden, head minister at First African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Pasadena, faces seven felony counts--three of lewd acts with a child, two of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, one of attempted unlawful sexual intercourse and one of oral copulation. If convicted, the defendant could receive up to six years in prison. He remains free on $30,000 bail.
Allegations against the pastor surfaced July 21 when the girl’s mother filed a complaint against Bolden with Glendale police. After interviewing the girl, police arrested Bolden on July 27.
Bolden’s attorney, Terrence J. Bennett, said Wednesday that his client is “factually innocent until something happens that changes that.”
“We’ll see if we can negotiate a settlement. . . . If not, then motions will have to be filed. We’ll have to prepare for a trial.”
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