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Tag: Criminal Sexual Conduct

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

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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.

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Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Pastor Charles Pelky Accused of Criminal Sexual Conduct

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charles pelky

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.

Charles Pelky, pastor of Avon Community Church in Avon, Minnesota, stands accused of having sex with a female church member he was counseling.

KARE-11 reports:

Charles Norman Pelky, age 49, is pastor of the Avon Community Church. Avon Police received information from a church member on July 11 that Pelky was having a sexual relationship with another parishioner during what were supposed to be ongoing counseling sessions. Avon Police turned the case over to the Stearns County Sheriff’s department citing a conflict of interest, as Pelkey was at that time Chaplain for the Avon P.D.

Stearns County investigators say the victim in this case first began going to Pelkey in 2012 for family counseling, and again in 2017 for religious and spiritual guidance. She was still in counseling when Pelkey reportedly started a sexual relationship with the woman in March of 2018, continuing it until May of this year.

A criminal complaint details how the victim told investigators that the counseling sessions started with Pelkey providing her with books and scriptures, and joining her in prayer. In February of 2018, however, the victim says Pelkey moved the sessions to a more secluded part of the church, and the counseling became more intimate in tone. She says Pelkey expressed having sexual feelings towards her, and in March and April the victim tells authorities the two had sexual relations at least three times.

Minnesota Law prohibits a member of the clergy from engaging in a sexual act during the course of a meeting (one time, or ongoing) with a victim seeking or receiving religious or spiritual advice, aid, or comfort from the suspect in private.

Consent is not a defense.