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.
James Murphey, a youth pastor of Oak View Baptist Church in High Point, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing three teen boys he once worked with at Oak View Baptist Church.
A former youth pastor in High Point is now a convicted sex offender.
On Thursday, James Robert Murphey pleaded guilty to abusing three teen boys he once worked with at Oak View Baptist Church.
He made the admission in front of a judge, his father, and a courtroom filled with people seeking accountability and healing, including a former coworker.
“The registry on the sex offenders list, that’s going to impact his life quite a bit. It is going to keep him away from being able to be around children and in churches like he’s used to being for many years,“ OVBC Safety Director Chris Martin said.
With attorney Don Vaughan representing him, Murphey pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual battery, which was down from the 30 counts he initially faced.
Prosecutors said Murphey abused three teenage boys while serving as youth director at OVBC.
The incidents happened between late 2023 and early 2024.
Assistant District Attorney Sarah Harvey said Murphey gave the teens prolonged wedgies, offered them money, and pressured them to comply by threatening to withhold prayer. In one reported incident, Murphey placed his foot on a teen’s private area.
Twelve people were in court who personally knew Murphey. Ten of them came to support the victims.
Two of the victims were in court. The third was not there, but a statement from his father was read aloud by Martin.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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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