Former Columbia Church Pastor and Youth Director Sentenced On Assault Charges

A former church pastor and youth director in Columbia is being sentenced to 5 years in prison for assault.

A judge sentenced Lorenzo Lawson yesterday (Monday) after a guilty plea was entered by Lawson on October 5th to one count of Second-Degree assault.

Lawson charged last November when a woman told investigators that he punched her several times, causing her lip to bleed, marks on her forehead, and she was treated for a broken jaw.

Lawson is the former executive director of the Youth Empowerment Zone in Columbia.