Minister sentenced to 60 years for molesting children

GREENWOOD, S.C. (AP) -- It will be difficult for this small town to forget how a minister hired to serve the area's growing Hispanic population instead preyed on its children.

But the Rev. Fernando Garcia's crimes are not easily discussed by the people he was supposed to help.

The 42-year-old Baptist minister was sentenced to 60 years in prison Monday after he admitted to sexually molesting nearly two dozen children and videotaping the acts.

"Ninety percent of the parents ... are still in denial," said grocery store owner Genara Bautista.

Victims and their parents have turned down counseling services offered by community leaders, Bautista said.

"They don't think it will help the kids later on," she said.