Judge orders blogger to pay $150K to local bishop over rape claims

ATLANTA — A Fulton County court ordered an Atlanta blogger to pay the bishop of a Georgia church with national congregations $150,000 in damages.
 
The controversy began years ago when the bishop was falsely accused of rape and other vile crimes.
 
The vindicated bishop told Channel 2's Diana Davis Tuesday that it all started because of a power struggle within his church.
 
Outside the Fulton County Courthouse, Bishop Larry Shaw told Davis the case began 12 years ago when a woman wrote a letter accusing the bishop of rape.
 
Shaw says none of the charges were true and that the woman later admitted it.
 
"Those charges were ridiculous and they were found to be bogus," Shaw said.
 
He said the rumors first surfaced when he was competing for a high position in the Church of God in Christ. He said his competitor hoped the story would cost him the election.
 
"There were a group of people that wanted a certain individual to unseat me and they could not find anything except for this bogus story," Shaw said.
 
Shaw thought his nightmare was over and done with. But about two years ago, he said Atlanta blogger William McCray posted the accusations all over again on social media.
 
Shaw took him to court.
 
A Fulton County judge has ordered McCray to pay Shaw $150,000 in damages.
 
Shaw told Davis it just one of many recent example of social media run amok.
 
"Anybody can be placed on social media and if you don't have the resources, some things can go on and live forever and you can never pull it back. Once a story is given, you will never pull back the entire story. Someone will read this story 20 years after I'm dead and they will believe this story to be true," Shaw said.
 
Davis asked Shaw if the incident damaged his faith to hear and see the mudslinging that went on within his church.
 
"People are people regardless of whether they are in a religious forum or a political forum," Shaw said.
 
McCray was unavailable for an on camera interview with Davis Tuesday.
 
In an email, McCray said in part that he will "appeal the new ruling so that this can be finalized in the appropriate manner. This is to be considered an ongoing case at this time"
 
"What about that $150,000 judgment ordered by the court?" asked Shaw. "It's not about the money, it's about the principle of it, and I feel that if allowed this to go on that would give them licenses to destroy an another person and another bishop."

WSBTV