Associate pastor sentenced to 10 years on molestation charges

COLUMBUS - An associate pastor in Columbus was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated child molestation. <br> <br> Michael Krug, an associate pastor at Calvary Baptist, pleaded guilty to the charges at the Muscogee Superior Court. <br> <br> The 35-year-old minister, who turned to religion after 14 years in the U.S. Army, faced his teenage accuser in the courtroom, who in turn asked Superior Court Judge Bill Smith to ``show mercy on (Krug)&#39;&#39; and to help him get counseling for his problem. <br> <br> The Rev. Donald Wilhite, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, told Smith that Krug ``initiated the call for help.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> ``He would go to jail for the rest of his life before he would add to their hurt ... but prison is not going to solve his problem,&#39;&#39; Wilhite said. <br> <br> State law requires Krug to serve every day of the 10-year sentence without the possibility of parole. His prison sentence will be followed by a five-year probation period.