Arthur Allen, center of church abuse case, denied parole

Associated Press/May 18, 2004

Atlanta -- The Rev. Arthur Allen, serving a two-year sentence for publicly whipping boys in his church, was denied parole Tuesday.

Allen was convicted in 2002 for the whippings, where boys in his independent church were held aloft by two adults and then beaten with a belt strap by Allen.

Dozens of children in the congregation were temporarily taken into state custody because their parents wouldn't agree not to allow them to be whipped in church.

Allen was sentenced to 10 years' probation, but he didn't report to his probation officer.

Allen skipped a hearing in 2003 to determine whether he had violated probation by not attending parental counseling courses and failing to pay his fine. He eluded police for five months until his arrest on Aug. 18, 2003, when he was arrested by National Park Service rangers who found him in a parked car.

The state Pardons & Paroles Board denied his probation request Tuesday, saying in a statement, "He has already proven he cannot abide by the conditions of community supervision."

Allen will serve his entire term, which ends Aug. 24, 2005. His convictions were aggravated assault and cruelty to children.