His congregation called him “Apostle.” The judge called him a “false prophet.” His victims forgave him, then they wept.

Woodlawn pastor Gerald Griffith sat stone-faced Wednesday while Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Robert Dugan sentenced him to eight years in prison. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped 41 other sex-abuse charges involving five youth. Under the deal, he will not face charges in four cases in which he was accused of molesting three boys and one girl during counseling sessions.