LAKE CHARLES, La. — A former Louisiana pastor has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison in a child porn case.
John Michael Ward, 45, pleaded guilty Nov. 19, to two counts of production of child pornography. He was sentenced last week to 30 years on each charge to run consecutively, The American Press reported. If ever released, Ward would be on supervision for the rest of his life.
Ward was previously the pastor of Bellview Baptist Church in Westlake, where he had served since 2012. He was arrested in 2019 for raping a child for a period of more than two years, beginning when the child was 10, authorities said.
Following an investigation by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, Ward told detectives he molested the girl since she was 9 years old and videotaped her nude on two occasions.
Ward faces other charges in state district court.
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