PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A former The Bible Speaks pastor was arrested in the state of Florida for two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 from 1980. 

 

Eric Anderson, 80, who had been an administrator in the church's Bible college and school, was taken into custody by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. An extradition warrant issued had been issued by the Berkshire District Attorney's Office after Anderson's indictment by a grand jury in April. 

 

The warrant had initially been for the commonwealth of Virginia until State Police with the DA's office found a second address in Bradenton, Fla. He was apprehended on Monday. 

 

Anderson is contesting the extradition. He is currently being held by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office on a fugitive from justice charge without right to bail. In approximately 30 days, Anderson is scheduled to reappear in a Florida court to face that charge. The DA's Office is in the process of seeking the return of Anderson to face charges here.  

 

The Bible Speaks operated out of Lenox for more than a dozen years before it was sued by one of its members for coercion and fraud. Its founder Carl Stevens moved it to Baltimore around 1987. 

 

According to the Baltimore Banner, Anderson had been living in Virginia with his son, Jesse, who had been convicted of molesting a boy at the church and a second son, Jonathan, had been accused but not charged with abuse.

 

The Banner did a deep dive on past abuse and coverups at Greater Grace World Outreach, the church's name now, and spoke with Erika Slater, who accused Eric Anderson of groping her in the first grade. Anderson was reportedly her principal at the time and the Banner said she filed a police report in Massachusetts. 

 

The church says it is committed to investigating the allegations and working with police; it encourages anyone with information to contact the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. It has also instituted a youth safety review. 

 

 

District Attorney Timothy Shugrue thanked law enforcement partners for this successful apprehension.

 

"I am grateful to law enforcement in both Virginia and Florida, specifically the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, for their assistance in apprehending Eric Anderson," he said. "Upon his return to Massachusetts, the defendant will face long overdue justice for his heinous crimes."