A former pastor has pleaded guilty to several crimes against children.
Last year, Rodney Martin Locklear, 49, of Ruckersville was arrested and charged with abduction with the intent to defile; two counts of aggravated sexual battery by force of a 13 to 14-year-old; object sexual penetration by force; abduction of a minor; three counts of an indecent act with a child while a custodian and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Six of the charges were originally charged in Madison County, but adjoined with cases in Greene County to prevent victims from having to testify multiple times. The crimes allegedly occurred in early May 2023 both at the now-defunct Victory Church in Ruckersville, where Locklear was a pastor for six years, and at his nearby residence. Prior to his tenure at Victory Church, Locklear pastored at Abundant Life Church. He pleaded not guilty to all charges in October and was placed under GPS-monitored house arrest allowing for travel to and from work.
In August, eight new felony embezzlement charges were added, stemming from Locklear’s time at Victory Church. The crimes allegedly occurred over a multi-year period from 2020 through 2023.
On Tuesday, Locklear entered into a plea agreement, pleading guilty to amended charges. The abduction with the intent to defile class two felony charge was amended to abuse of a child with a disregard for life, a class six felony. The aggravated sexual battery by force of a 13 to 14-year-old felony charge was amended to sexual assault of a child 13 to 14 years old, a class one misdemeanor. The object sexual penetration by force charge, an unclassified felony, was amended to abuse of a child with a disregard for life, a class six felony. Abduction of a minor, a class two felony, was amended to sexual assault of a child 13 to 14 years old, a class one misdemeanor. Three charges of indecent act with a child by a custodian, an aggravated sexual battery charge and a contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge were nol prossed. Locklear also pleaded guilty to eight charges of embezzlement of more than $1,000.
A pre-sentencing report was ordered. Sentencing has been set for Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Locklear remains under GPS-monitored house arrest. He is not to have any contact with the victim or their family, household members of witnesses and cannot have any contact with a minor other than his child. Locklear is also prohibited from consuming drugs or alcohol, cannot have access to the internet or possess internet-connected devices and cannot have any firearms or destructive devices in his home.
