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Judge denies lower bond for Dallas pastor charged with sex crimes

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. — A Gaston County pastor, charged with sex crimes with a girl as young as 12 years old, was in a Brunswick County courtroom Wednesday to get his bond lowered.

The judge kept Joseph Hall's bond at $1.2 million, but added a condition to his bond.

The judge said that he can't have any contact with the accuser or with anyone under 18.         
                     
The case is being handled out of Brunswick County because that's where investigators say it happened.

Warrants stated Hall allegedly raped a young girl from 1994 until 1999.                
   
It gave no details about his relationship with the accuser, or why she didn't come forward until now.

Hall is currently the men's ministry leader at Restoring Hope Foursquare Church in Dallas.

None of the two dozen supporters in the courtroom wanted to comment about the case.

A judge set his next hearing for August.

Read our past coverage: Dallas minister accused of sex crimes, including rape with child