Tag Archives: Baptist Church

The Baptist Press reports: Shane Wiggins, pastor of Baldwin Baptist Mission Church, Baldwin, Louisiana, was arrested April 9 on charges of rape and molestation. Wiggins has been with the Baldwin congregation, a mission of Little Pass Baptist Church in Charenton, La., since March 2015. According to the police department of Morgan City, La., Wiggins was arrested in Paris, Texas, and faces …

The Biloxi Sun-Herald reports: A federal judge sentenced a former South Mississippi minister to 20 years in prison for sexual conduct with a young boy in a bathtub while video chatting with a resident of the United Kingdom. Tyler Selby’s supporters, including family and church members, lined more than two benches in the courtroom at the sentencing hearing in U.S. …

The Tampa Free Press reports: Christopher Hayes, a 46-year-old realtor, youth lacrosse coach, and church deacon, has been arrested following a disturbing investigation into child pornography and bestiality. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office uncovered hundreds of explicit files linked to Hayes, including videos depicting child sexual abuse and sexual acts involving animals. The investigation began on December 12, 2024, when …

Oklahoma City’s ABC affiliate reports: Cleveland County deputies arrested a former pastor accused of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, and investigators say there could be more victims. James McMillan was arrested Tuesday afternoon, and court documents show that there are multiple Department of Human Services and law enforcement cases where he is listed as a sexual …

Kansas City’s CBS affiliate reports: 29-year-old Andrew Lovisone of Greenwood, Missouri, was arrested on Sept. 17, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office reported. A video on First Baptist Church Peculiar’s Facebook page shows Lovisone’s ordination service there back in July. He was called as an associate pastor. He is charged with two counts of first-degree promoting child pornography, which is a …

Little Rock’s CBS affiliate reports: A pastor from a small town in Arkansas has now been arrested and charged for his involvement with child sexual abuse materials. On Monday, the prosecuting attorney’s office in Bradley County filed charges against 86-year-old Rocky Goodwin, who is the lead pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Warren, Arkansas. Goodwin was charged with distributing, possessing, …

Winston-Salem’s NBC affiliate reports: Detectives in High Point have arrested and charged a man after a months-long sexual assault investigation involving teen victims. High Point police report they arrested James R. Murphey, 44, of High Point early Thursday morning. Officers found him at a home in High Point. Murphey is charged with 30 counts of sexual battery. Detectives said the …

Charlotte’s NBC affiliate reports: A local religious leader is facing charges for not reporting crimes against children. The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office says an investigation began on May 30 for a string of sexual assault allegations involving minors that spanned over several years. Kenny Parker, the pastor of Straitway Baptist Church in Albemarle, was charged for three counts of failing …

The Carteret County News-Times reports: Jerry Allan Box, a local minister at the Russell Creek Original Free Will Baptist Church in Beaufort, turned himself in to the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office on April 12 after being charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals for killing a cat. Officials have video evidence in addition to Box initially lying to …

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: A South Florida pastor accused of sexually battering a 15-year-old girl in his church became a wanted man Monday after skipping out on scheduled court hearings. He’s believed to be on the run. Monte Chitty, the 62-year-old pastor of First Baptist Marathon, had been released on a $75,000 bond soon after his March arrest. Prosecutors say …

Charlotte’s CBS affiliate reports: A Union County pastor is under fire after a clip of his sermon went viral online, in which he blames rape victims for their attire. Pastor Bobby Leonard of Bible Baptist Tabernacle can be heard saying that he wouldn’t convict a rapist if the victim was wearing shorts. The clip, which has been viewed millions of …

Richmond’s ABC affiliate reports: A former pastor of an independent Baptist church in the town of Warsaw in Richmond County is facing 30 felony charges relating to multiple incidents the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office alleges occurred at the church between 1981 and 1997. Albert Benjamin Wharton, 86, of South Carolina, was arrested in South Carolina at 8:42 a.m. on Friday, …

From the Justice Department: A federal jury today convicted a Lame Deer pastor of sexually abusing three children while they were staying at his home, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. After a six-day trial that began on Dec. 4, the jury found Dean Alan Smith, 67, guilty of aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact …

Michigan Live reports: Convicted of assaulting young boys as a Little League coach in North Carolina, Jonathan S. Russell relocated to Saginaw Township. He’s now facing charges in two Michigan counties for allegedly assaulting numerous children by exploiting his position in a local church. In February, Michigan State Police troopers began investigating allegations Jonathan S. Russell had been abusing children …

Oklahoma City’s NBC affiliate reports: The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was notified by the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center in regards to possible computer crimes by 40-year-old David Prince, who is a chaplain and associate pastor in McAlester. Officials say on November 6, the OSBI ICAC unit, along with other law enforcement agencies, served a search warrant at Prince’s …

Click Orlando reports: A former teacher at an Orlando Christian private school faces several charges of sexual activity with a minor, according to Orange County court records. In addition, the victim is suing The First Academy, The First Baptist Church of Orlando and her former teacher for sexual abuse and for failing to notify law enforcement after learning of the …

Charlotte’s CBS affiliate reports: A pastor at a Caldwell County church is facing child sex charges after the execution of recent search warrants. Investigators served warrants against 51-year-old Ashley James Crouse on Nov. 3, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said. Both deputies and agents with the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) participated in the searches. Officials said both Crouse’s …

La Crosse’s CBS affiliate reports: A former Tomah Baptist Academy teacher will spend 10 years in prison for repeated sexual assault convictions. Friday, Monroe County Judge Richard Radcliffe sentenced 75-year-old Anne Nelson-Koch to 10 years prison, 15 years supervised release for convictions on 25 counts of sexual assault. Nelson-Koch was convicted in July of repeatedly forcing a 14-year-old student to …

Odessa, Texas’s CBS affiliate reports: Corey White, 33, a former youth pastor at Redeemer Midland was arrested on Oct. 23, and charged with Access with Intent to View Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM)/child pornographic materials. According to an email shared with CBS7, White was fired from the church following his arrest. The email also stated that the church would be …

Springfield’s CW affiliate reports: A former pastor from McLeansboro has been sentenced to prison for grooming charges. On October 19, 28-year-old Garrett S. Biggerstaff was sentenced to a maximum three years in prison with the Illinois Department of Corrections for one count of grooming. Biggerstaff was also fined $10,000 and must make restitution to the victims in his case. The …