Sex offender arrested for being too close to church nursery

GASTONIA, N.C.,None — A sex offender was arrested after police say he was too close to a Gastonia church's nursery.

Registered sex offender David Lineberger said Monday that he's been attending Southminster Presbyterian Church for more than 11 years without any problem. He's even an usher there.

That was until Sunday, when deputies showed up and took him into custody after they received a complaint. He was arrested for being within 300 feet of the nursery inside the church, which is illegal under North Carolina law.

"(The) church didn't have anything to do with it -- (the) church just happened to be the location," said Capt. Darrell Griffin with the Gaston County Sheriff's Office. "It was the nursery/day care where kids regularly gather."

Lineberger, 50, appeared via satellite in Gaston County court on Monday. He told the judge that church members know he is a registered sex offender.

"This has been my church family for 11 years," Lineberger said. "I have some very close friends and family, some are even in the courtroom today."

Lineberger's brother, Lewis Lineberger Jr., was in court.

"We have had nothing but exemplary support from his church family," he said. "I feel that they will continue to support him."

Lineberger's fellow usher showed up, too.

"I have seen no behavior that would lead me to believe that there was any indiscretions being made," Brewer Parker said.

Lineberger, who lives in Kings Mountain, has been on the sex offender registry since 2000 for an out-of-state conviction in 1995. He has no listed violations since then.

On Monday, the judge dropped Lineberger's bond to $50,000.

More information: NC sex offender registry SC sex offender registry

WSOC