North Carolina pastor guilty of sexually abusing girl

Eric Dave Jones, 49, pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a child
Jones will serve 90 days of house arrest and three years of supervised probation
Public records show Jones was a pastor at a church in Andrews

By Harvey Day For Mailonline

Published: 15:56 BST, 15 September 2017 | Updated: 15:56 BST, 15 September 2017

Eric Dave Jones, 49, of Bryson City, pleaded guilty in Haywood County Superior Court to indecent liberties with a child

A former pastor in North Carolina has been sentenced to just 30 days in jail after admitting to sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl in 2002.

Eric Dave Jones, 49, of Bryson City, pleaded guilty in Haywood County Superior Court to indecent liberties with a child.

In addition to his jail time, Jones will serve 90 days of house arrest and three years of supervised probation.

‘The root of me telling people is because I know it’s not my fault that he’s done what he’s done and that he is a predator,’ said the victim, now 25, according to the Citizen Times.

The victim added: ‘I’ll never get back what he took or what he’s caused, or the time that’s been lost on the just the emotional effect.’

A court judgment said he will be required to submit a DNA sample and register as a sex offender for 30 years.

The judgment said Jones began abusing the child when the victim was 9 years old.

Public records show Jones was a pastor at a church in Andrews before he resigned after his arrest.

He entered his plea on Monday.