Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 25, 1993 TAG: 9302250307
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Long
GIRL'S PARENTS CONVICTED
The parents of 16-year-old Sabrina Simpkins were convicted Wednesday of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after their daughter and 44-year-old Elwood Gallimore testified they had sex at the Simpkinses' home.Two felony charges against Gallimore - seduction and taking indecent liberties with a minor - were sent on to a Floyd County grand jury.
Gallimore is a Henry County minister who preaches that having more than one wife is sanctioned by the Bible. Gallimore had been married 26 years when he announced to his congregation in December that he and Simpkins had been married "in God's eyes."
Neither Simpkins' parents, Clark and Brenda, nor Gallimore was represented by an attorney at Wednesday's hearing. All three pleaded not guilty.
Clark Simpkins' only legal defense was presented as a question when he took the stand.
"If a girl 15 years of age could legally consent to sex, why would there be a charge against me and my wife?" he asked. "I don't think we have committed a crime."
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge J.L. Tompkins sentenced Clark and Brenda Simpkins to 90 days in jail, but suspended their jail time. Clark Simpkins was fined $300.
Since it was made public Jan. 12 that Henry and Floyd county authorities were investigating Gallimore, the unordained minister of the Evangelistic Tabernacle in Bassett Forks has straightforwardly explained his church's beliefs to anyone who asked.
But Sabrina Simpkins and Gallimore's wife, Janice, have not said much. Wednesday, with reporters from Martinsville to Roanoke to Richmond sitting in the courtroom, Simpkins took the stand.
Asked by Tompkins if she wanted an attorney or wanted the hearing closed to the public, Simpkins gestured to the witness chair and said, "This is fine."
Her answers to Floyd County prosecutor Gino Williams' questions were brief, but polite:
How do you know Mr. Gallimore?
"As my husband."
How long have you known him?
"Since I was born."
What things did you do in this church? What instructions did you and the rest of the congregation receive?
"The word of God was preached there."
Did you at any time on or after Nov. 24 (the date they were unofficially married) have sexual intercourse with Mr. Gallimore?
"Yes, sir, I did."
How long after the 24th did it occur?
"Two weeks, maybe."
Had you had sexual intercourse prior to Nov. 24 with any other person?
"No, sir."
Where did this sexual intercourse occur?
"At my home."
With that testimony, Simpkins affirmed the main tenets of Virginia's century-old seduction law: that she was previously chaste and that she had sexual intercourse with a married man. Conviction of both felony charges could put Gallimore in prison for 20 years.
Earlier in the hearing, Williams introduced as evidence the marriage certificate of Elwood and Janice Gallimore.
Given the opportunity to testify or call witnesses, Gallimore took the witness chair. He said he was not preaching polygamy merely to practice it; he had been preaching it long before he "married" Simpkins.
And Gallimore again explained the arrangement: If a man asks a woman to marry him and she agrees, they are married "in God's eyes."
"I consider us so married now, whatever the outcome is of this, she'll never date another boy," Gallimore said, "because she's a married woman."
Though not represented by an attorney, Gallimore did succeed in successfully objecting to one of Williams' questions. Williams asked if Gallimore ever had sex with someone other than Janice Gallimore or Sabrina Simpkins.
"I don't think I would have to answer that, would I?" Gallimore asked. "Is that considered this case?"
Tompkins replied: "I'll consider that an objection, and I'll sustain his objection. That's not relevant to this case."
Gallimore's followers continue to support him. They filled one side of the courtroom Wednesday, and some were forced to stand in the hall.
Church Treasurer Dale Fields said some Gallimore supporters had arrived at daybreak for the 9:30 a.m. hearing.
\ THE GALLIMORE FILE\ \ Nov. 24: 16-year-old Sabrina Simpkins agrees to "marry" Elwood Gallimore, her 44-year-old preacher, as they drive from Henry County to her Floyd County home.
\ Jan. 6: Police go to Floyd County High School to question Simpkins about her relationship with Gallimore. She admits being informally married to Gallimore.
\ Jan. 7: Virginia State Police and Henry County authorities obtain a search warrant and seize 426 videotapes of Gallimore's sermons from a residence next to the Evangelistic Tabernacle.
\ Jan. 19: Floyd County authorities charge Gallimore with seducing Simpkins into marrying him and with a related felony. Simpkins' parents are accused of allowing Gallimore to have sex with their daughter in their home and are charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.\ \ Feb. 24: The Simpkinses are convicted. The charges against Gallimore are forwarded to a grand jury.