Nashville Pastor Molested Kids For Nearly Two Decades: Police

NASHVILLE, TN -- During his two decades in the pulpit, the long-time pastor of Nashville's Nolensville Road Baptist Church molested "multiple" children, according to an indictment.

Metro Police brought Matthew Dennis Patterson, 45, from Pittsburgh to Nashville Friday, booking him on eight counts of aggravated sexual battery. Patterson, who goes by the name "Denny," pastored the South Nashville church for 20 years until his resignation Sept. 24 after which he moved to the Steel City.

On Sept. 27, parishioners went to Metro Police's South Precinct to report "children were saying Patterson had them engage in strange activities with him, including sitting on his face and stomach, sometimes in their underwear," according to investigators.

After interviewing numerous congregants and church staff members, detectives said they identified "multiple victims," mostly boys, who said they were abused by Patterson between 1998 and 2017.

Patterson was indicted by the Davidson County grand jury in February and taken in custody March 8, but refused to be interviewed, police say.

The investigation remains open and police officials anticipate additional charges connected to other victims. Patterson's bond is set at $100,000.

Detectives said church leadership has been "fully cooperative" with the investigation.

Photo via Metro Nashville Police