Wife of accused East Prairie, Mo. pastor now faces charges

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. (AP) -- The wife of a southeast Missouri pastor who is accused of sexually assaulting three children is now facing a criminal charge, too.

KFVS-TV reports that 36-year-old Beth Lynnette Allen of East Prairie is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities say she knew that her husband, Kenneth Neal Allen, inappropriately touched a child, but failed to report it.

Kenneth Allen is pastor of Grace Apostolic Church in East Prairie. He was charged last week with three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and possession of child pornography. Neither Allen nor his wife had listed phone numbers or attorneys.

Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore says further charges are likely against Kenneth Allen.

Ann Allen, Kenneth Allen's mother, has said the accusations are lies.

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Information from: KFVS-TV, http://www.kfvs12.com