The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.
Roy Shoop, pastor of Cowboy Gatherin’ Church (currently, their Facebook has been set to private) in Inola, Oklahoma, stands accused of sexually molesting three girls under the age of sixteen who were either working on his farm or taking horse riding lessons from him.
Rogers County deputies arrested an Inola pastor after he was accused of molesting three girls under the age of 16.
“It should be sickening to hear this from anyone who would commit those acts on children. They were placed in a position where they should have been able to trust a man. It takes it to another level to see this from a man who stands on a pulpit and leads a church,” Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton said.
Deputies said they arrested Roy Shoop on May 20 at his house after they said he molested three girls that were either working on his farm or taking horse riding lessons from him.
Documents said a 12-year-old girl came forward in January to say Shoop sexually assaulted her. Deputies said that girl was receiving horse riding lessons from Shoop.
Documents also showed two other girls, ages 13 and 15, came forward with sexual assault accusations. The documents said the 15-year-old was sexually assaulted four times.
Shoop denies the charges leveled against him.
In his own words Roy Shoop is an innocent man.
“I can assure you I have done nothing inappropriate with these young ladies or in any manner,” said Pastor Roy Shoop.
The Inola pastor and well known figure in the community is facing sexual assault accusations involving three girls; accusations he says are false.
“All I can do is just continue to pray and to seek the Lord and follow him in this manner and that means praying for the young ladies as well,” said Shoop.
….
“I am heartbroken that these accusations could be made against him. My Dad is a man of God; my mentor,” said Daughter Shanelle Gray.
Through this week’s arrest Shoop has had his family behind him, especially his daughter Shanell Gray.
“He has raised up a church that serves the Lord fearlessly and we just pray that these accusations get stopped,” said Gray.
….
In the meantime Shoop’s family is staying by his side.
“He’s my daddy there’s no greater character of a man who would lay down his life for his friends and his family,” said Gray.
Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton says it’s possible more allegations could surface.
One victim told authorities that Shoop would inappropriately touch her while he was instructing her on horse riding and while she was at his Inola, Oklahoma, residence, according to the affidavit.
“These events took place while (the victim) was staying at the Shoop’s residence where she was being instructed on barrel racing with her new horse her father had purchased from Roy and Diana Shoop,” investigators state in the affidavit.
The other two victims reported similar accounts. Each reported going to Shoop’s residence for horse riding or rodeo-related lessons when the alleged abuse occurred.
One victim reported the abuse occurred in October 2018. Another victim reported the abuse occurred between April 2018 and April 2019, and the third victim reported abuse occurring in January.
Investigators state in the affidavit that the victims were not related to one another.
Deputies arrested Shoop on Wednesday. He was booked into Rogers County jail on the charges and subsequently posted a $300,000 bond.
Bruce Gerencser, 66, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 45 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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I received the following email alleging nefarious behavior by the sheriff and county court. Evidently, Satan is roaming free in Rogers County. What next, Shoop claiming the Flip Wilson defense? Geraldine, the devil made me do it!
Dear Reverend;
It’s with a heavy heart that I come to you concerning these times of such worldly influence on our churches. I hope that you will look a little further into this worldly aspect of Rogers County, Oklahoma. Here in Oklahoma you will readily see the truth of what exists in the Judicial Process of Rogers County and all of Oklahoma. Sadly, Judicial District #12 is perhaps the most corrupt County in Oklahoma. Simply put, a tyranny of biblical proportions exists and the power of that tyranny has descended on Christianity. Again Christianity is being tested to the core of our beliefs. Rest assured that Rev Shoop is facing a battle with Satan. I assure you, Sheriff Scott Walton, who is a neighbor of Rev Shoop is a messenger of evil. You only need to do a minor amount of research, all available on the internet to see sufficiently into the Kingdom created in Judicial District #12.
Sincerely
My prayers
George Thomas
So it was the devil who molested those young girls? Well that clears things up! Ugh…..