Alice Springs pastor Terry Medling charged with allegedly assaulting child

A long-serving Alice Springs religious figure will face court after being charged with aggravated assault against a child. Find out more.

Alice Springs pastor Terry Medling has been charged with aggravated assault. Source: Facebook

A long-serving Central Australian religious figure has been charged with physically assaulting an Indigenous child.

As reported by The Australian, pastor Terry Medling was last month served a notice to appear on a charge of aggravated assault against a girl under the age of 16.

The 73-year-old allegedly grabbed the girl by the arm and attempted to pull her out of a car at the end of a Sunday church service, the Australian reported.

The alleged incident took place in February, 2023 at a place known as Old Timers, which is among the town camps Mr Medling has preached at for the past 40 years.

Mr Medling spoke to The Australian and denied harming any children, saying he had been “slandered” and “targeted” for an unknown reason.

He said police had brought the aggravated assault charge after he became “angry” at a teenage girl over her repeatedly taking other children away from his town camp church services.

“I don’t think I ever touched her or anything,” he told the Australian.

NT Police confirmed a 73-year-old man had been issued a notice to appear on July 31, relating to a historic allegation of aggravated assault against a child under the age of 16.

Mr Medling will appear in Alice Springs court on September 25.

Originally published as Alice Springs pastor Terry Medling charged with allegedly assaulting child