I have known Pastor Pettis for a long time, he was my pastor who petitioned for me when I emigrated to the united States, he is a good man who is incapable hurting a fly, his incarceration is an abrasion of the truth. Let him have a fair trial.

No man, regardless of color, should be convicted & sentenced to 20 years in prison on the dubious word of a delinquent minor. The fact that the prosecution offered Mr. Pettis a 5-yr deal which he turned down suggests that 1) the prosecution was not all that confident in the validity of its case, and 2) Mr. Pettis was all that confident in his innocence. The facts will come out only if he is granted a fair and competent re-trial.

This is obviously a case of miscarriage of justice. Rev. Keith Pettis has not received the fair trial he is entitled to.and I wish to add my name to those who would seek a fair appeal and set this man free. It is totally unacceptable that an incorrigible teenager could win a trial against a decent family man who has dedicated his life to his ministerial duties and helping others. How could his church members forsake him? Sadly, racial prejudice is alive and well in N.C. Please do what you can to rid our State of this dreadful attitude. Claire Whitley (87 yrs old)

Ridiculous sentence for a man with zero record. He served this country and helped kids in his own home. Something is very wrong with the way this went down.

Twenty years based on one kid's story with no proof? My heart breaks for his family. This whole thing makes me sick.

JUSTICE FOR PASTOR PETTIS!!! HE IS A GOOD MAN AND HE DESERVES HIS DAY IN COURT WITHOUT ALL THE LIES.