Marianna church couple arrested for lewd acts

Suspected of lewd and lascivious acts on a child

By: JCFloridan Staff | Dothan Eagle
Published: March 20, 2011

A Marianna couple was arrested Friday on charges of allegedly committing lewd and lascivious acts on a child.

According to a press release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Justin and Hanna Crawford allegedly developed a “friendship” with a 13-year-old boy they met though their work with a church youth group.

On March 11, the victim and the couple attended a group camping trip at a Marianna campground. During the trip, Hanna Crawford allegedly had “inappropriate contact” with the victim, according to the press release.

It’s also alleged the victim left the park with the defendants and went to their residence on Merritt’s Mill Pond Road in Marianna. Once at the residence, it’s alleged the defendants engaged in “lewd and lascivious acts with the victim.”

During the month of March, the defendants allegedly exchanged hundreds of text messages with the victim and interacted with the child during youth activities.

Hanna Crawford, 22, has been charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a child, lewd and lascivious molestation of a child, and lewd and lascivious exhibition in the presence of a child. Justin Crawford, 24, has been charged with being a principal to lewd and lascivious battery on a child, and lewd and lascivious exhibition in the presence of a child.

Justin Crawford is listed on the Marianna Church of God website as Rev. Justin Crawford, the church’s web administrator. Pastor of Marianna Church of God Bishop Ron Freeman confirmed Crawford had a volunteer position at the church. Freeman was aware of the arrests, but made no comment.

A note from the pastor was later posted on the church’s website that stated, “It has come to my attention that Justin Crawford has purported himself as an associate pastor of the Marianna Church of God without my knowledge. This is not true. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford were members of the church only, and voluntarily assisted in various functions of the church, as many of our members do. The Crawfords were never appointed to any official ministerial position.”

The church is located at 2791 Jefferson St. in Marianna.