Menu Close

Tag: Black Collar Crime

Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Youth Pastor Ryan McElrath Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Sexual Misconduct with a Minor

0 Comments
ryan mcelrath

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.

Earler this year, Ryan McElrath, a youth pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, Tennessee, was accused of raping a seventeen-year-old church girl. McElrath pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct charges and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Channel 7 reported:

A Jackson youth pastor has been arrested on rape charges.

According to booking information from the Madison County jail, 39-year-old Ryan McElrath was booked into the jail around 5:48 p.m. on Tuesday.

Jackson Police Department’s online Police To Citizen resource shows that McElrath was arrested at a residence on Willow Green Drive, with charges listed as sexual battery by an authority figure, statutory rape, and statutory rape by an authority figure – forcible rape.

In a social media post made by Fellowship Bible Church prior to his arrest — which is no longer accessible — McElrath is described as a “high school pastor.” At the time of this report, the church also has several videos on their website where McElrath can be seen as a featured speaker.

McElrath also hosted a religion-based podcast with episodes ranging from October 2021 – November 2023. The podcast’s description states: “Here, at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, TN, we are starting our very first Family Podcast in which we are going to create space for families to have great conversations with their kids and have fun at the same time!”

A June 14, 2024 update stated:

A warrant has revealed additional details in the arrest of youth pastor Ryan McElrath. According to the warrant, on the morning of June 11, a man visited the Jackson Police Department to report a sexual assault against his daughter. The warrant states on May 31, 2024, McElrath engaged in sexual contact with a 17-year-old female victim at Fellowship Bible Church, located at 141 Pleasant Plains Road in Jackson. According to the warrant, McElrath met the victim in the high school area of the church for approximately 30 minutes. McElrath is expected to appear in Jackson City Court on June 26th at 9:30 a.m.

Fellowship Bible released the following statement:

Ryan McElrath is no longer employed at Fellowship due to criminal charges filed June 11. Within hours of the allegations, the matter was investigated, Ryan admitted to the violation, and was terminated. The church immediately supported the victim in reporting the allegations to local law enforcement, and notified parents and students. The church is cooperating fully with local authorities, and is engaging an external agency to audit church policies and procedures as well as provide guidance on continued care for the victim and the church. Our priority continues to be the privacy and well-being of the victim, the victim’s family, our students and their parents.

“As a church community we are absolutely devastated by this. And, as a parent, I share in our God’s outrage and grief when the innocent are harmed. We are acting in cooperation with law enforcement in caring for the victim and the victim’s family.”

Eugene Brandt, Lead Pastor Fellowship

After his sentencing, Channel 7 reported:

A former youth pastor in Jackson has been sentenced to prison for sex crimes involving a minor.

In June 2024, then 39-year-old Ryan McElrath, a former youth pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, was booked into the Madison County jail on charges involving inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor.

A warrant revealed that the arrest stemmed from an alleged incident that took place at the church between McElrath and a 17-year-old female victim.

In February 2025, McElrath pled guilty to “use of a facility and means of interstate commerce to persuade, induce, entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual acts.” The plea agreement includes that McElrath will be placed on the national sex offender registry.

On June 6, 2025, McElrath was sentenced at the U.S. District Court in Jackson to 252 months (21 years) in federal custody and five years supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $8,000 in restitution.

The court also recommended that McElrath be housed at a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility as close to Phoenix, Arizona as possible.

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Southern Baptist Pastor Allan Jones Sentenced for Child Porn Possession

0 Comments
pastor allan jones

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.

Allan Jones, pastor of Lifeway Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, pleaded guilty to child pornogpraphy possession and will spend the next six months in jail.

WKRG-5 reports:

A former Baptist church pastor will spend six months in jail after pleading guilty to child pornography possession.

Allan Kyle Jones, 50, was arrested in August 2023 on multiple charges after explicit images of minors were found on his phone, according to officials. 

Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a cyber tip from a company that monitors illegal online activity, prompting the investigation.

None of the children in the images seemed to be from the area, officials said at the time.

Jones pleaded guilty to one of the charges and received a 10-year sentence, split to serve six months in jail and three years of probation, plus various fines and court costs.

Jones was the pastor of Lifeway Community Church on Thompson Road.

Lagniappe adds:

The pastor of a Loxley church, which routinely hosted homeschool and youth fine arts activities, is being accused of possessing pornographic videos and photographs of young girls.

Allan Kyle Jones, 48, pastor of Lifeway Community Church in Loxley, is facing four criminal charges for possessing sexually explicit images. He was arrested Tuesday morning by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and released several hours later on a $60,000 bond.

Cpt. Andre Reid with the Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit stated his office has been investigatingJones for several weeks after receiving a tip. He said detectives collected enough details to establish probable cause and obtained a warrant to search Jones’ cell phone.

“Mr. Jones has been charged with four counts of possession of obscene material containing the visual depiction of a person under 17 years of age. This investigation is still ongoing, and evidence is being analyzed,” he said.

Additional charges may be added once BCSO completes its investigation, Reid said.

A criminal complaint detailing Jones’ accusations was made public Thursday afternoon, Aug. 31. That document states Jones was arrested and charged after law enforcement officers confirmed the presence of images and video of “prepubescent” girls on his Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra cell phone.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission states prepubescent children are generally 13 years old or younger and lists sexual attraction to this age group among the criteria for pedophilia.

According to court filings, Jones had numerous explicit images of female minors and a 4-second video of a girl pulling down her pants. Those materials were reportedly downloaded on Aug. 25 and depict the girls showing their anus, vagina and breasts while they pose.

The state’s online court database lists Jones’ wife and mother as witnesses, in addition to a confidential source. It does not specify who made a report or how the witnesses are involved in the case. Fairhope attorney Patrick Prendergast is representing Jones.

“[Mr. Jones] maintains his innocence and looks forward to the facts coming out in court,” Prendergast said in a statement.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 5.

According to state license records, Lifeway Community Church was formed in 2001. The church’s website states Jones has been the pastor since 2015. A home address on Jones’ booking sheet is identical to the church’s address; he reportedly lives in a residence on church property.

The church is listed as a member of the Baldwin Baptist Association, which serves area Southern Baptist churches. It’s the denomination’s policy for affiliated churches to autonomously govern themselves.

….

A review of Lifeway church’s online profiles and other pages suggests homeschool students would have been commonly present at the church building through various fine arts programs. A source who has attended homeschool events at Lifeway described the church as a hub for homeschool activities and said Jones had “entrenched” himself in the homeschool community. Authorities have given no indication Jones had inappropriate behavior with children at the church.

Various social media pages for Baldwin County homeschool families and events indicate workshops and events for homeschooled students were regularly hosted at Lifeway church.

One post promoting a homeschool expo stated, “The Jones family is always there to help anyone in need, especially our local homeschool community! Pastor Allen Jones is the pastor of Lifeway Community Church in Loxley. They have hosted many homeschool events at their church and have been so welcoming.”

Additionally, the church regularly hosted the Impact Youth Theater group and accommodated other homeschool-oriented fine arts organizations, such as choir and orchestra. Jones’ LinkedIn profile indicates he has professional acting experience and has participated in community theater productions.

It is currently unclear if Jones plans to continue to act as Lifeway’s pastor or if the conditions of his bond will prevent the church from holding youth events while his charges are pending.

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Methodist Pastor Myron Chorbajian and His Wife Face Numerous Sex Crime Charges

5 Comments
myron and kathleen chorbajian

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.

Myron Chorbajian, pastor of First Southern Methodist Church in Greenville, South Carolina and his wife, Kathleen, face ninety criminal charges, including child sexual abuse and attempted murder.

WRDW reports:

New warrants released in the investigation into a Greenville County pastor and his wife reveal more allegations of disturbing abuse.

In May, Myron Chorbajian and Kathleen Chorbajian were arrested after a victim came forward about abuse that reportedly started in the 1980s. Initial reports from investigators detailed extensive child sexual abuse and animal killings.

Myron is the pastor of First Southern Methodist Church in Greenville. He and his wife reportedly adopted numerous children over the years.

The Chorbajians now face a combined 90 charges, including two attempted murder charges against Myron.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office released the new warrants in the case on Thursday, which contain graphic details. Some of the allegations are too disturbing to report.

The attempted murder charges stem from alleged incidents in the 1990s where, according to his arrest warrants, Myron cut off oxygen to victims by holding them underwater or placing his arms around the victim’s neck.

The  warrant says Kathleen “allowed her husband to force their children to smoke until they vomited.” A related warrant against Myron says it was “several packs of cigarettes.”

Myron also forced children to eat trash and feces, other warrants state.

A warrant says Myron killed a 6-year-old girl’s pet rabbit in front of her with an axe and forced the child to eat the rabbit.

To “prove the consequence of disobedience,” a warrant says Myron threw a child’s pet kitten into the running engine of a van.

Myron sexually abused a child on the victim’s 12th birthday, according to a warrant. He’s accused of committing child sex crimes both on his home couch and an office couch of his place of work at the time. During one of the sexual assaults, Myron is accused of restricting a child’s breathing until she passed out.

Kathleen is accused of handcuffing a child to the bed for days during one instance of abuse detailed in a warrant. She also reportedly slapped and struck children in the face with items causing bleeding.

A warrant says Myron took a victim to the woods, stripped her naked, and beat her with a stick “leaving long lasting bruises.” Kathleen knew about it, the warrant against her states.

The Chorbajians were denied bond again during a hearing on Tuesday and remain in the Greenville County Detention Center.

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Pastor Dominic Foor Accused of Sexually Abusing Teenagers

0 Comments
dominic foor

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.

Dominic Foor, the former pastor of Pathway Apostolic Church, current pastor of New Direction Church, both in Columbus, Ohio and the operator Foor U Construction, stands accused of sexually abusing two teenagers.

WBNS-10 reports:

A 23-count indictment was filed against a central Ohio pastor who is accused of sexually abusing a teenager.

The indictment filed in the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas states that 39-year-old Dominic Foor faces the following charges:

11 counts of sexual battery

Six counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor

Six counts of importuning

According to the indictment, the first incident reportedly happened at a home on Lockbourne Eastern Road in Ashville on Nov. 3, 2022, when the victim was 15 years old. The indictment also states that the incidents lasted through Nov. 26, 2024.

Captain Johnathan Strawser with the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office said the original complaint was brought forward on Nov. 28, 2024, and it has been under investigation since.

Strawser added at the time of the incidents, Foor was a pastor at Pathway Apostolic Church in Columbus.

10TV reached out to the church, which stated that Foor had left his position in March. The church said he is currently serving as the pastor of New Direction Church on Parsons Avenue.

A judge set a $250,000 bond for Foor when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Baptist Pastor Douglas Jones Accused of Criminal Sexual Conduct

0 Comments
pastor douglas jones

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.

Douglas Jones, the pastor of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, stands accused of one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The Royal Oak Tribune reports:

A prominent 82-year-old pastor of a Pontiac church accused of a sex crime in Rochester Hills will face an Oakland County Circuit Judge next week.

The case against Reverend Douglas Jones of West Bloomfield was advanced following a preliminary exam in 52-3 District Court.

Jones, senior pastor of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac since 1989, is charged with one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct — a high court misdemeanor — that allegedly occurred Aug. 26, 2024.

At the conclusion of the preliminary exam on May 20, Judge Laura Polizzi determined there was enough evidence to bind the case over to the higher court for possible trial.

Jones is well-known for his ministries and other community involvement throughout Pontiac — including board member of the Oakland County Health Network, founder of the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition, and more. In February, the Detroit Red Wings recognized him as a “Black History Month Game Changers honoree.”

Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involves unwanted sexual contact but does not include penetration. High court misdemeanor penalties are typically more severe than misdemeanor penalties; fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable by up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of $500.

Jones is out of custody on a $10,000 personal bond, which requires no cash or surety to be posted.

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Youth Pastor Chaz Chinsethagid Sentened to Prison on Child Pornogpraphy Charges

0 Comments
chaz chinsethagid

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.

Chaz Chinsethagid, a youth pastor at an unnamed church, was recently sentenced to fourteen years in prison on child pornography charges.

Channel 6 reports:

A former Bixby youth pastor is headed to prison for trying to coerce a minor to meet up for sex.

According to federal documents, Chaz Chinsethagid admitted to going to an online chat room and messaging who he thought was a 14-year-old girl; the account was run by an undercover officer.

Documents say Chinsethagid asked the girl to send pictures, asked for her to call him, and offered to drive to meet up with her.

Investigators say he also admitted to having child porn on his phone.

Chinsethagid pleaded guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography.

A federal judge sentenced Chinsethagid to 14 years in prison for the crimes.

He will have to register as a sex offender after he’s released.

The U.S. Attorney’s office reports:

A former youth pastor was sentenced today for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Chaz Chinsethagid, 34, of Jenks, to serve 168 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Chinsethagid will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, from December 2023 through March 2024, Chinsethagid knowingly entered an online chat room. He engaged in several conversations and initiated a conversation with someone he believed to be 14 years old. Chinsethagid spoke with the 14-year-old about school and quickly turned the conversation sexual. He then attempted to entice the 14-year-old to participate in a video call or provide sexually explicit photos.

Chinsethagid further admitted to possessing explicit videos and images of children, some under 12 years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. 

Chinsethagid will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Bible Camp Youth Director Cody Robinson Accused of Child Pornography Possession

0 Comments
cody robinson

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.

Cody Robinson, a camp youth director at Pine Lake Bible Camp in Caldwell Ohio, stands accused of numerous crimes related to the possession of child pornography.

WKBN27 reports:

A youth director at Pine Lake Bible Camp has been arrested following an investigation into child sexual abuse material by the Noble County Sheriff’s Office as part of the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.

According to Your Radio Place, Cody S. Robinson, 29, was taken into custody on May 17, 2025, just outside of Caldwell.

Authorities say the arrest followed a cyber tip received by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which reported video files of child pornography linked to Robinson.

A  search warrant was executed at Robinson’s residence, leading to his arrest. He is facing a range of charges, including:

One count of first-degree misdemeanor Falsification

One count of second-degree felony Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor

Two counts of third-degree felony Attempt to Commit an Offense

Two counts of fourth-degree felony Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor

Two counts of fourth-degree felony Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Juvenile

Two counts of fifth-degree felony Illegal Use of Minor in Nudity

….

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Sheriff’s Office directly.

The Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force is part of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, which coordinates multi-agency responses to combat human trafficking and related crimes.

In the wake of the arrest, Pine Lake Bible Camp announced on social media that all camps scheduled for June 2025 have been canceled.

The announcement cited “unforeseen circumstances” and offered an apology to affected families for the short notice.

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Youth Pastor James Murphey Pleads Guilty to Abusing Three Church Teenagers

0 Comments
james murphey

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.

Fox-8 reports:

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Volunteer Evangelical Youth Pastor Daniel Lamppin Accused of Sexually Abusing Two Foster Children

0 Comments
daniel-lamppin

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.

Daniel Lamppin, a volunteer youth pastor at Connection Church in Kissimmee, Florida, stands accused of sexually abusing two minor girls under his care.

WESH-2 reports:

A foster parent in St. Cloud is being accused of sexually abusing two girls who had been in his care. 

On Wednesday, 40-year-old Daniel Lamppin made his first court appearance where a judge gave him no bond and ordered he not discuss the case with his wife or children who are “potential witnesses.”

Lamppin is facing 24 counts of sexual battery by a custodian, according to the Osceola County sheriff.

The sheriff said Lamppin worked as a manager at Chick-fil-A on South Orange Blossom Trail and as a volunteer youth pastor at Connection Church on Generation Point in Kissimmee. 

A pastor with the church says Lamppin was a member, but did not serve as a volunteer youth pastor. 

“It’s sad and it’s sickening,” Osceola County Sheriff Marco Lopez said, describing what Lamppin is accused of. 

Lopez said they started investigating Lamppin in November 2024. 

“The victim now is a 15-year-old who disclosed being sexually battered from age 6 to 8 years old by her foster parent, Daniel Lamppin,” Lopez said.

The sheriff said the victim accused Lamppin of sexually abusing her on three separate times and physically abusing her once. 

While investigating this case, the sheriff said another alleged victim was found. A woman who is now an adult, but was a foster child under Lamppin’s care. 

“The family disclosed he began abusing her within days of moving into the home. The sexual abuse started at the age of 16 and continued for years,” Lopez said.

The sheriff said Lamppin is facing two dozen counts of sexual battery by a custodian. He was walked out of the sheriff’s office in handcuffs Tuesday to be taken to jail. 

When asked if he had done what he’s accused of, all Lamppin said was, “No.”

Despite his claim of innocence, the sheriff said that because of his foster parenting and his work, they’re concerned there could be more victims out there. 

“Based on his contact with these children at the time and through his work, foster care, and as a youth pastor, there’s a concern that there could be additional victims. There is an open investigation, and we definitely want other people to come forward,” Lopez said. 

The church relased the following statement:

The Connection Church acknowledges that an investigation involving allegations related to Daniel Lamppin is currently underway. We want to assure our congregation and the broader community that The Connection Church is fully cooperating with all authorities involved in this process and have already spoken to the lead investigator on this case. For clarity, Daniel Lamppin is not a volunteer youth pastor at the Connection Church. 

Our priority remains the well-being of everyone connected to our church community. We are committed to fostering a safe, accountable, and Christ-honoring environment for worship, service, and fellowship. 

We ask for your prayers during this time—for those directly impacted, for our church leadership, and for the truth to prevail.

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Southern Baptist Pastor Scott Haught Sentenced Up to 25 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault

0 Comments
scott haught

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.

Scott Haught, a former assistant pastor at Midland Baptist Church in Midland, Michigan, and a deacon at Coleman’s Grace Baptist Church in Coleman, Michigan, was recently convicted of ne count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct relationship; four counts of second-degree CSC with a person under 13; and four counts of second-degree CSC relationship. His victims were his daughters.

The Midland Daily News reports:

A former leader at Midland Baptist Church and Coleman’s Grace Baptist Church, Scott Haught, 54, was sentenced to serve up to 25 years in prison for sexually abusing two of his daughters. 

A jury found Haught, 54, of Saginaw, guilty of nine felony criminal sexual conduct charges after a two-and-a-half-day trial in March. He was sentenced Thursday, June 5 in Midland County’s 42nd Circuit Court. 

Haught was convicted of one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct relationship; four counts of second-degree CSC with a person under 13; and four counts of second-degree CSC relationship. He will serve 11 years to 25 years in prison for the first-degree charge and was sentenced to 4-15 years in prison for the additional charges. He will serve both sentences concurrently. 

Under state law, Circuit Court Judge Stephen Carras could have sentenced Haught to life in prison for the first-degree CSC charge.

Midland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Atea Duso, who tried the case, said Haught had the opportunity to plead guilty to two second-degree CSC charges and serve four years in prison, with the remaining charges dismissed.

Haught opted to go to trial and rejected the plea offer on Feb. 27.

Haught has been in the Midland County Jail since his July 16, 2024 arrest by Michigan State Police. Why he appeared in a wheelchair for trial and sentencing was not addressed by the court. He will get credit for 324 days served on his sentence, will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release and will spend the rest of his life on electronic monitoring.  

According to a 2006 Daily News story, Haught served as deacon of Coleman’s Grace Baptist Church, where he directed its summer Bible school. According to trial testimony, he also served as associate pastor at Midland Baptist Church until 2021.

Another Midland Daily News report adds:

Scott Haught led two lives: A public one as a leader in his church and a private one in which he used religion to control and abuse the women in his home. 

Fifteen friends, family and even some of his fellow Midland County Jail inmates wrote letters of support and praise for Haught that were shared with Midland County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Carras before sentencing. 

“They see you as a man of God who would never do the things that you have been convicted of doing. They cannot reconcile (your crimes) with what they know of you,” Carras said to Haught as he appeared before him in a wheelchair Thursday, June 5 during sentencing. “The reason why is because they weren’t here and didn’t see and hear the evidence that was presented to the court.”

A jury found Haught, 54, of Saginaw, guilty of nine felony criminal sexual conduct charges after a two-and-a-half-day trial in March. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 11 to 25 years in prison.  

During the trial, jurors heard testimony from family members recounting how Haught, a former associate pastor at Midland Baptist Church and deacon at Coleman’s Grace Baptist Church, used his “religious authority” to gain control over his ex-wife and daughters. 

Two victims testified that Haught ordered them to nap with him in his bed, which created the opportunity for him to sexually abuse them.  

“The evidence showed us that in the home, you eroded your wife’s moral authority with your daughters to destroy her self confidence so that she would not stand up (against you),” Carras said. “All with the purpose of separating them from their mother – so that they would not look to her as a person for guidance and a person of authority. 

….

Members of Midland Baptist Church, including Pastor Jim Payne, listened as Midland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Atea Duso described how Haught used his background in theology to assert his dominance over the family. 

“He controlled and manipulated his family and used his religion to justify that – ‘This is my house and these are my rules and this (sexual abuse) is what you should expect,'” Duso told the court. “He took advantage of these girls and robbed them of the innocence and freedom that they should have had as children.”

….

“You molested your daughters. The evidence shows that you treated those girls like possessions,” Carras said. “By all accounts, it looks like you had a strong moral compass. [huh?] You did a lot of good things for other people. But somewhere along the line, you forgot to police yourself. Your compass strayed and allowed you to do the things you did to your daughters over all those (10) years.”

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.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.