Prosecutors: New Jersey pastor lied about church attack

SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- Prosecutors say the pastor of a central New Jersey church fabricated a story about being attacked inside the building by three people who he claimed tied him up.

Jairon Pena told police that two men and a woman had attacked him late Friday morning at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Somerville. Pena said the trio then removed bibles from the pews and scattered them throughout the church while making negative comments about his religious beliefs.

Pena said the three tied him up before leaving. But investigators noted that the 36-year-old Somerville resident didn't have any visible injuries.

Prosecutors say Pena fabricated the entire story due to some undisclosed "personal events."

A call to the church rang unanswered Monday.