Lowcountry pastor faces additional assault charge

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A Lowcountry pastor now faces three counts of rape, including two incidents where women were assaulted in a trailer behind his Ladson church.

A magistrate in Summerville denied bond Thursday as Dale Richardson of Summerville was charged with a third sexual assault that occurred in January 2010. An arrest warrant alleges Richardson picked up a woman hitchhiking and took her to a wooded area near Jedburg. He is also charged with the sexual assaults of two other women and a kidnapping where there was no assault.

Authorities allege he gave two of the victims a ride, drew a gun and took them to a trailer behind the Free Will Baptist Church between Ladson and Summerville.

Richardson said he understood the charges against him, but said little else during the hearing.