A Jefferson Parish jury on Wednesday found Terrytown pastor Terry Reed guilty of sexually abusing two teenage boys, convicting the 66-year-old on two counts of third-degree rape and two counts of molestation of a juvenile. Prosecutors said the abuse stretched over years inside the small ministry Reed ran out of his home, and the guilty verdict capped an investigation that led to his 2023 arrest.
District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. announced the jury's decision, according to WGNO. Prosecutors described Reed's conduct as long-term predation. Assistant District Attorney James Wascom told the outlet, "He deserves to be accountable for what he has been doing for over 30 years." Fellow prosecutor Assistant District Attorney Eric Cusimano went even further, calling Reed "the worst kind of predator in this community," the report noted.
Background and prior convictions
Court records and earlier coverage show Reed's criminal history with sex-related offenses spans decades. He pleaded guilty in 1997 to indecent behavior with a juvenile and again in 2017 to molestation of a juvenile and indecent behavior, as reported by WWL. Authorities say Reed ran Vessels of Christ Ministry out of his North Marlin Court home in Terrytown, and several of the victims met him through that ministry.
According to prior reporting and court documents, one victim disclosed the alleged abuse when he was 19, which triggered the 2023 arrest. Another alleged that the abuse began around 2011, when he was 16. Both accounts became part of the broader picture prosecutors presented to jurors.
Prosecutors' case
In court, prosecutors said they introduced records showing Reed used Bible verses and scripture to normalize and justify sexual behavior toward the teens, according to WGNO. Testimony detailed how Reed allegedly leaned on his spiritual authority and constant access in a home-based setting to groom or coerce the boys over time, a pattern prosecutors argued helped convince jurors of his guilt.
What's next
The court has not yet set a sentencing date, which will be scheduled after standard post-trial procedures. Reed remains in custody while judges and attorneys handle the paperwork that typically comes before sentencing. Prosecutors said the jury's verdict marked an important step toward accountability for the victims.
The case has again thrown a harsh spotlight on small, home-based ministries and the hurdles survivors face when they decide to come forward. Prosecutors said the conviction sends a message to predators who hide behind religion, and Reed now waits for the formal sentencing process to follow the jury's decision.
