A Fresno Minister Is Under Arrest

11/19/2007 (KFSN) -- Investigators say the 23 year old minister used the same tactics each time he approached women off Parkway and Motel Drives.

Once he lured them into his car, police say at least 4 women were raped while the suspect held a butcher knife to their necks.

Fresno police say Anthony Ireland was repeatedly targeting random women along Highway 99 near Olive Avenue, a well known place to pick up prostitutes.

Lt. Don Gross, Fresno Police Department, says "He identified women who were walking along the sidewalk, picked them up, and took them to a secluded location where he sexually assaulted them."

Monday Ireland was charged with 4 felony counts of forcible rape with special circumstances. He could face additional punishment since there are multiple victims and he used a dangerous weapon.

Police say the victims range in age from 18 to 34 years and are various ethnicities.

Reginald Grey has known Ireland for 3 years. He's the senior pastor at International Crossroads Community Church, a place where Ireland taught and worshipped.

"Just recently, over a year ago he was licensed as a minister, showed himself to be very likeable, loveable, people were drawn to him. Basically he was just hard working," says Grey.

Grey says Ireland called him initially to say he was arrested for having a knife. The pastor says he ended up seeking out the truth on his own. "We went onto the internet and when we punched his name into the Fresno County jail system and the page came up and it was like wow, what is this, it's not about a knife, anymore, and it's about something more serious. Shocked; very, very shocked," says Grey.

Police say Ireland would target women around the same time of night between 9 and midnight.

Friends say Ireland is married and his wife has been in the hospital recently battling a lifelong disease.

Investigators believe there may be more victims who did not report the crimes.

Ireland is already a registered sex offender. He pleaded not guilty Monday in court.

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