COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former Columbus pastor accused of raping a juvenile pleaded guilty and was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison, according to Franklin County Court of Common Pleas documents.

George Bell was indicted last year on four counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition with the alleged crimes reportedly happening between 2021 and 2024. According to the indictment, the victim was under the age of 10.

Bell pleaded guilty to two counts of rape. The other charges were dismissed.

He was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison and must register as a Tier III sex offender.

Bell was a pastor at Anchor Baptist Church in Columbus at the time of the incidents.

The church said in a statement last year that Bell had resigned in front of the church on June 27, 2024, cit

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