Albemarle man accused of sex crimes against children

ALBEMARLE, N.C. — An Albemarle man is accused of committing sex crimes against children while at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly.

Brunswick County detectives said they arrested Clyde Way, 68, after he allegedly assaulted four boys between the ages of 10 and 13 two weeks ago at the gathering.

For the past three years, Way has volunteered with youth at the Stanly Baptist Association -- which works with several churches in Stanly County.

He has also been a substitute teacher with the school system for two years.

Channel 9 found a post on Way's Facebook wall from just over two weeks ago saying how excited he was to take a local youth group to the church camp at a North Carolina beach.

Deputies arrested Way on Wednesday. Authorities said late last month, Way was with youth from Bethlehem Baptist Church at a camp in Fort Caswell on Oak Island.

According to arrest warrants, Brunswick County authorities said Way made the four play strip poker and strip war.

The warrants said Way then made the boys put on some sort of performance and he then allegedly performed lewd acts on them.

The director of the Stanly Baptist Association said the accusers told their parents last week, and the church pastor then notified the association.

The director said he then called the Sheriff's Office.

"The volunteers student ministries leader has been removed from his position … in response from the incident, churches across the area are coming together for a workshop to better equip churches in preventive practices and policies," said Dr. Hal Bilbo with the Stanly Baptist Association in a statement.

The workshop will be next month.

Way is charged with 16 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of indecent liberties with a child and four counts of employing, permitting or assisting an offense against a minor.

Way is being held in the Stanly County Detention Facility on $350,000 bond.

WSOC