Pastor ex-wife Laura Lloyd pleads guilty to making false statements in child sex trafficking case

Another plea deal in the ongoing trial of the Toledo pastors accused of child sex trafficking. In January, the second of those pastors, Cordell Jenkins, pleaded guilty in federal court. Wednesday morning, his ex-wife, Laura Lloyd, also pleaded guilty to making false statements in that case.

Lloyd faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, through there is no word yet on when she will be sentenced on those charges. In fact, neither Jenkins nor Pastor Kenneth Butler has faced sentencing after accepting plea offers.

Lloyd admits she lied to agents about knowing her husband, Cordell Jenkins, and Anthony Haynes were allegedly sleeping with a female teen that attended their church. On March 29, 2017, she met the youth and her guardian at a local pizza place. They told her the teen was 17 and the men were sleeping with her and giving her money. The teen reported the information to a school official.

The trial of Lloyd and Haynes was set to begin with jury selection Wednesday morning before a change in the case late Tuesday. Lloyd was permitted to sever her case from Haynes, and the start of her trial was vacated. The judge instead set a change of plea hearing.

There is a gag order in this case, so the reasons for the change in plea are currently unknown.

Haynes is set to appear before a judge for a status hearing next week.