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Former Anti-Abortion Leader and Aide to Alabama Lt. Gov.
Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth once called Cole Wagner “a whiz-kid” and a “bright, young guy”
BY TESSA STUART
JULY 24, 2023
Marty Decole "Cole" Wagner MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
AS THE CHAIR of Alliance for a Pro-Life Alabama in 2018, Cole Wagner helped muscle into the Alabama Constitution a new amendment declaring the state recognized “the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.” On Friday, the Alabama Political Reporter broke the news that Wagner had been arrested for the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12.
A copy of the indictment was not immediately available, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department did not respond to inquiries about Wagner’s arrest.
Wagner told the Montgomery Advertiser in 2018 that passing Amendment 2 would send the “powerful message” that Alabama voters “are willing to stand in defense of our citizens who can’t yet defend themselves.” Amendment 2 did pass — in a big win for the anti-abortion movement — setting the stage for Alabama’s total ban on abortion, which went into effect when Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.
After that victory, Wagner snagged a plum job in Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth’s office. For three and half years, according to Wagner’s LinkedIn, he was employed as Ainsworth’s Senate liaison working to advance Ainsworth’s agenda and support his role as president of the Senate. During his time with Ainsworth’s office, Wagner attended events with the lieutenant governor, who called Wagner “a whiz-kid” and a “bright, young guy.”
On Twitter, Ainsworth — who was also a prominent supporter of Amendment 2 and opponent of abortion rights — has shared photos of himself with Wagner. He’s also used Twitter to wish Wagner happy birthday: “Happy 30 birthday @MDeColeW . For those of you that don’t know this is his face when he loses in sports. Fortunately he is better at policy and solving problems than winning at sports.” (Ainsworth’s tweet was deleted shortly after this story published, but an archived copy remains available online.)
On his own since-deactivated Twitter account, Cole has joked about Joe Biden’s “inappropriate hugs.”
Ainsworth’s office did not respond to multiple inquiries about Wanger’s tenure working with the lieutenant governor, including a question about whether his office was taking steps to investigate whether Wagner may have engaged in criminal behavior while working for the lieutenant governor.
Wagner left the lieutenant governor’s office in February for the Alabama Department of Education, where according to his LinkedIn profile, he worked in government relations. The ALSDE called the allegations against Wagner “serious, tragic and shocking” in a statement, and said last week that he had been terminated from his job “effective immediately.”
According to the Alabama Political Reporter, Wagner was released last week after posting $60,000 bail. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Charlotte pastor accused of sex crimes against children
By WSOCTV.com News Staff
August 04, 2023 at 10:30 pm EDT
CHARLOTTE — A local pastor was charged again Friday after police said he sexually abused several young boys while serving as a youth pastor.
Veteran crime reporter Glenn Counts dug into the case and learned the suspect’s brother helped keep him serving the church.
Early Friday morning, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers knocked on the door of Bobby Price’s home and arrested him for sexually abusing kids back in the early 2000s.
The shockwaves were felt at Camino Church when police arrested Bobby Price Friday.
His brother, Rusty Price, is the lead pastor at the church.
The church had a news conference Friday afternoon to answer questions about why he hired his brother.
“This is a tragedy. This is a sad day. It’s hard for our organization. It’s hard for our staff.” said Rusty Price.
This was not the first time he’s dealt with his brother’s troubles with the criminal justice system.
In 2014, Bobby Price pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges that were filed when he was a pastor of Kingsway Church in Concord.
“This is not a case of some big religious organization trying to cover up a bunch of things,” Rusty Price said.
CMPD said that Bobby Price is an associate pastor at Camino.
Rusty Price said he has not re-offended and there are no victims as a result of his current job.
“I’m going to stand here and speak from pure emotion,” Rusty Price said. “I’m very confident that there aren’t.”
Dr. Charles Kats is a criminologist at Arizona State University and has studied registered sex offenders.
“It’s just high risk and it’s an unnecessary risk,” Kats said.
He said it was a mistake to appoint one as pastor.
“That information can be imparted to young people that can be manipulated just like it can be with a teacher or a doctor where we are asking the young person to have faith and trust in the person who is taking care of them,” Kats said.
Rusty Price said it was not a secret that his brother was a registered sex offender and that there were protocols in place that would have prevented him from working with children. Rusty Price said he believes in second chances.
Second chances with other people's children. Children of your own congregation. How absurdly stupid and arrogant.
“You got to know something, I love my brother,” he said. “I love my brother and as a family, we’ve gone through some very tough times. So, on a personal level, this is a tough day.”
A registered sex offender can find work as a pastor.
Typically, they must stay 300 feet away from the kids.
This is one of those exceptions in the law because everyone has the right to practice their religion.
Bobby Price was being held on a $175,000 bond before bonding out.
Any victims relating to Price or anyone with a tip on a case involving Price should call 704-336-7495 and ask for Detective Carey. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 704-334-1600 or visiting.
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