Baptist pastor arrested by Pleasanton police

Wade Booth

Journal staff report

PLEASANTON – Wade Booth, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Pleasanton, was taken into custody by the Pleasanton Police Department on Monday, Aug. 31, on several charges related to alleged sexual contact with a child under 18 years old.

Booth, 70, remains in custody in the Linn County jail on $750,000 bond.

Charges against Booth, according to the Linn County Sheriff's Office inmate log, include alleged aggravated incest, lewd fondling with a relative older than 16 and younger than 18; aggravated incest, intercourse with a biological, step-, or adoptive child older than 16 and younger than 18; unlawful sexual relations betweern a teacher with a student older than 16; and aggravated intimidation of a witness/victim younger than 18 years old.

Booth has been pastor of the First Baptist Church since 2007. He was a central figure recently when he sought financial support from the Linn County Commission and area cities for housing for homeless people at the former nursing home in Prescott.