Former youth pastor charged with child sex crimes appears in court

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — A registered sex offender accused of sex crimes with a child he met through a Leland church nearly a decade ago was back in Brunswick County to face a judge Monday.

The District Attorney’s office says 65-year-old Merle Darnell Davis made his first court appearance Monday.

He was extradited Saturday from Maryland.

Davis faces one count of statutory sex offense and three counts of indecent liberties with a child.

Leland Police say in 2017 they got a report of a sexual assault of a juvenile alleged to have happened between June and August 2009.