Rudolph Walls, 64, pled guilty Wednesday to criminal sexual conduct with a minor and to failure to register as a sex offender.  Judge Markley Dennis sentenced Walls to 15 years – the maximum sentence allowed under the law.

 
Walls, who was pastor of Friendly Chapel Church on Main Street in Dillon, admitted to sexually molesting a young boy who attended the church.
 
Walls is a registered sex offender and has a prior record that includes several convictions of similar charges.  Sex offenders are required to register with the local sheriff’s department in counties where they live and work.  Walls failed to notify the Dillon County Sheriff’s Department that he worked as a pastor in Dillon.
 
“Obviously, we agree with and are appreciative of the Court’s imposing the maximum sentence,” said Assistant Solicitor Shipp Daniel, who prosecuted the case.  “This is a terrible case perpetrated by a man whose position as a pastor makes it that much more heinous.  Unfortunately, 15 years is all he could get.”