September 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A local minister is facing charges in Macon County stemming from a domestic situation involving his daughter and runaway granddaughter.
68-year-old David Lunsford is charged with custodial interference and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He will make an appearance in Macon County General Sessions Court on September 20. He is free on a $3,500 bond.
According to Macon County authorities, Lunsford’s 14-year-old granddaughter ran away from home on August 12 during the time when her mother was supposed to have parental custody of the child. During the investigation, Macon County detectives contacted Lunsford who said he could not provide any information as to the child’s whereabouts because she had sought refuge in his church. Claiming that Lunsford did not deny knowing the child’s whereabouts, detectives charged him with custodial interference and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for basically allegedly interfering in the return of the child to her mother.
When contacted by WJLE Friday, Lunsford said he is innocent of the charges against him and denies assertions by Macon County authorities that he knew then or knows now the location of the child other than communication relayed to him that she is at a safe house undisclosed to him.
Lunsford claims he had been aware of a domestic violence environment the teen had been exposed to at home which caused her to leave and seek refuge.
According to the affidavit of complaint in the arrest warrant, On August 12, Detective Elliott Sandifer and another detective (Woodard) began investigating a runaway juvenile case. The child’s mother, according to the warrant, was supposed to have custody of the child from August 11 at 5:30 p.m. until August 18 at 5:30 p.m. but on the morning of August 12, the child ran away from her mother’s home. The child has been charged as a runaway through the Macon County Juvenile Court. On August 14, Detective Woodard spoke with Lunsford, and he (Lunsford) stated that he could not give him any information due to being the child’s pastor, and the fact that she is seeking refuge in the Church. According to the warrant, Mr. Lunsford did not deny knowing the child’s whereabouts. Therefore, according to the warrant, he was hiding the child from her mother during her rightful parenting time. Due to the fact that the child is a runaway, I (Sandifer)am charging Mr. Lunsford with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. As he did not return the child to her mother, and he aided or abetted or encouraged the child in the commission of an act of delinquency or unruly conduct. This did occur in Macon County,” the warrant stated.
Lunsford’s response to the charges is as follows:
“(The runaway) is actually my granddaughter but she is not just my granddaughter, she was converted in my church, and I Baptized her. She is a member of our church, so she is also one of my parishioners. I was under the impression that a church, based on our first amendment rights could give shelter to a teen that was fleeing domestic violence. It was a unique situation for me because I had first-hand knowledge and had witnessed the abuse so for me it was not hearsay. When I first got in the ministry and was licensed, they flat out told us that if we had first-hand knowledge of abuse and didn’t act on it that we could be held liable for that”.
Lunsford claims efforts have been made on behalf of the child through the legal system but to no avail.
“I went to court to get guardianship of my granddaughter about a year and a half ago but lost the case even though DCS had recommended that she remain with me. The child lived with me for the first four years of her life, and I have partially raised her,” said Lunsford.
The child’s mother and father, according to Lunsford are divorced and have 50/50 custody but the teen allegedly continued to experience problems at home, especially with her mom. After running away, Lunsford said the child sought refuge at his church.
“A couple of volunteers went to get her and put her in a safe house. I didn’t even go pick her up. She was then enrolled in school so she wouldn’t be truant. I contacted both of the parents the next day and told them the child had come here to seek sanctuary in the church and it was being provided for her. She is still at a safe house, not with either custodial parent, or with me,” said Lunsford.
Lunsford said he questions why authorities didn’t take the child from the safe house where she was staying and return her to her dad like they said they were going to, if custodial interference is an issue.
“I know they were just after me or they would have taken the child out of the safe house and put her with her dad like they were supposed to,” said Lunsford.