Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT >> AN UPSTATE PASTOR STANDS ACCUSED OF BEATING HIS WIFE AFTER SHE ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED A NEWBORN. CAROL: LAURENS COUNTY DEPUTIES SAYS THE PASTOR’S WIFE KIDNAPPED A BABY SHE WAS LOOKING AFTER. DEPUTIES SAY THE CHILD’S MOTHER CALLED THEM FRIDAY EVENING AFTER JENNIFER ENGLISH DID NOT RETURN& THE INFANT. THEY SAY ENGLISH ALSO STOPPED COMMUNICATING WITH THE MOTHER. DEPUTIES FOUND THE CHILD WITH ENGLISH AT A HOME IN JOANNA AROUND MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY. THEY SAY ENGLISH HAD SMOKED MARIJUANA NEAR THE BABY. SHE FACES A SLEW OF CHARGES, AMONG THEM KIDNAPPING. >> DEPUTIES SAY ENGLISH’S HUSBAND, DAVID, KNEW ABOUT HIS WIFE’S ADDICTION, AND ADMITTED TO TAKING HER TO BUY ILLEGAL DRUGS ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THEY SAY HE ASSAULTED HIS WIFE DURING A FIGHT ABOUT HER -- ABOUT WHERE THE NEWBORN WAS ON FRIDAY. HE’S BEEN CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. DEPUTIES SAY HE’S A PREACHER, AS WELL AS A TEACHER IN ANOTHER COUNTY. ACCORDING TO ITS FACEBOOK PAGE, DAVID ENGLISH IS PASTOR OF NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH IN CLINTON. THE INFANT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE EVALUATED AND TREATE

Advertisement Pastor helped wife get drugs, beat her after she kidnapped newborn she was babysitting, sheriff says Jennifer, David English face multiple charges Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A complaint about a 31-year-old babysitter who disappeared with a 2-month-old baby led to charges against the woman and her husband, who is an Upstate pastor, according to the Laurens County sheriff. Laurens County Sheriff Don Reynolds said deputies were called Friday evening by a woman who said Jennifer Bunting English had been babysitting her newborn, and that English had not returned the infant and had stopped communicating with her. More than three hours later, at about midnight, deputies located English and the baby at a home in Joanna. English was charged with kidnapping and unlawful conduct toward a child after investigators learned she had smoked marijuana near the baby. The infant was taken to the hospital in Laurens to be evaluated and treated. Deputies said they determined English’s husband, David English Jr., was not only aware of his wife’s drug addiction, he admitted having taken her to buy illegal drugs on previous occasions. Investigators said they also learned David English had caused “significant injuries” to his wife when he assaulted her during a fight about where she had been on Friday. Deputies arrested David English on Monday on charges of second-degree domestic violence and unlawful conduct toward a child. “This was a terrible incident but, luckily, we found the baby before this turned out to be much more tragic than it already is,” Reynolds said. “Hopefully, this lady will stay behind bars where she can’t put any more children in danger. “As for Mr. English, this guy is a preacher, as well as a teacher in another county. It is very disturbing to think that someone in his position, which makes him a role model to our youth, would assist his wife in purchasing illegal drugs or would assault a woman. "We will continue to incarcerate these types of violent offenders and put it in the hands of the prosecution.” According to its Facebook page, David English is pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Clinton.