Church piano player and Christian school's coach Mickey McMahan faces dozens of child sex abuse counts

[Artaxerxes II]

https://www.thesylvaherald.com/top_stor ... 69134.html

A Jackson County senior citizen has been indicted and arrested for dozens of child sex offense charges dating back decades.
Mickey McConnel McMahan, 67, of Fargo Lane, Sylva, was arrested for 24 counts of felony indecent liberties with a minor child and two felony counts of taking indecent liberties with children.
Thirteen true bills of indictment containing two counts each were handed down and 13 corresponding orders for arrest were issued for McMahan on Nov. 12. He was taken into custody on Nov. 15.

The indictments date to events that allegedly occurred in the 1980s and ‘90s. The earliest dates listed in court records were April and October of 1983 for four counts of indecent liberties with a minor child. Two counts dated to April 1985. Assaults also allegedly occurred in June, August, October and December of 1989. In 1990, six separate offenses took place in February, April and June. There are two charges of taking indecent liberties with children in August 1994 and two counts of indecent liberties with a minor child in August 1995. The final date in the currently available court record is August 1997.

The incidents are said to have occurred in relation to McMahan’s involvement in Victory Baptist Church and Victory Christian School.
McMahan was a piano player at the church and served as a basketball coach, according to a former student speaking off the record.
The school was founded in 1977 “as a ministry of Victory Baptist Church in Sylva,” according to the school’s website, and is a K- 12 school with students from North Carolina and Georgia.

The Sylva Herald reached out to Victory Baptist Church for a statement concerning the allegations and McMahan’s arrest.
The church issued the following comment: “We have no statement at this time.”
The family’s ties to Victory go back to its roots. McMahan’s father, Corsey, was a charter member of the church, serving as deacon and treasurer.

Tough to talk about

Coming forward to disclose sexual assaults that occurred in childhood can be incredibly difficult for adult victims, according to AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center Director Crystal Jones.
AWAKE is not involved in these cases since they pertain to adult disclosures.
The average age of an adult disclosure is 52 years old, Jones said.

“I think society underestimates the courage it takes to come forward with the horrific things that happened to victims when they were children and tell what is often a complete stranger,” she said. “Additionally, delayed disclosures are far mor common than we think as a society due to the difficulty of making a disclosure of abuse.”

Adults living with childhood trauma, especially trauma that has not been disclosed or dealt with, often face psychological and physical ailments. Adult victims may experience post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Childhood trauma can also impact adult health. Adult victims can have higher incidences of cancer, diabetes and substance misuse disorders.
“This does not necessarily apply to everyone,” Jones said. “Many victims have to work incredibly hard to overcome their abuse symptoms and triggers.”
Childhood sexual abuse has no statute of limitations, Jones said.
If you are a victim the law and mandated reporting still apply.
“They have a voice,” she said. “It’s important to always reach out to law enforcement and make a report of any suspected child abuse, no matter how long ago it happened.”

If convicted on enough counts, McMahan could spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
Taking indecent liberties with children applies if the suspect is 16 years old or more and is at least five years older than the child victim. It is a Class F felony carrying a maximum punishment of 59 months if convicted.
Indecent liberties with a minor child is a Class F felony carrying the same punishment and a requirement to register as a sex offender for 30 years.
McMahan was booked into the Jackson County Detention Center and released under a $300,000 secured bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 24.