A Wyoming children’s minister admitted he couldn’t be left alone with kids after he molested a young girl during his Christmas vacation in Florida, according to cops.
Richard Scott Shaw, 69, told cops he “gave into temptation” when he allegedly groped the victim — who was under 12 years old — over her clothing on two separate occasions while visiting the Sunshine State, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
The girl confided in her mother shortly after Shaw returned to Wyoming, where he serves as a worship leader at Under Command Ministries. The enraged parent then called the minister, who allegedly confessed to the perverted crime, but claimed it was an accident.
The girl was one of Shaw’s two known victims, police discovered.
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He changed his tune when he was taken into custody last week, telling officers he was “afraid of the consequences.”
“It wasn’t with the intention of hurting anybody,” Shaw said, according to court documents obtained by Law & Crime.
Richard Scott Shaw told cops he “gave into temptation” when he allegedly groped his victim over her clothing on two separate occasions. Polk County Sheriff⿿s Office
Shaw allegedly told officers he “gave in to temptation” when he groped the girl, and said he suffered from a pornography addiction.
The minister denied detectives’ accusations that he was a “sexual predator,” but admitted he shouldn’t be trusted to be near the girl again, the records show.
“When asked during the course of the investigation, ‘Should we trust you with a child?’ He said, ‘no I wouldn’t,’” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference.
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“This guy is an evil person.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called Shaw an evil person after the minister told cops he shouldn’t be trusted around children. Facebook/Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Wyoming police are conducting their own investigation to determine whether Shaw may have abused other kids in his home state, where he is affiliated with several churches.
Under Command Ministries, his main organization, did not answer requests for comment Thursday.
“This man should never be allowed to have access to children again,” Judd said.
Shaw is charged with two counts of lewd molestation on a child under 12 years.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Transportation has reported that the ongoing high wind speeds throughout the state have caused 39 vehicles to crash on Wyoming highways so far this week, primarily between Dec. 9 and Dec. 11.
According to a report from WYDOT, most of the crashes occurred on Interstate 80 near Cooper Cove west of Laramie, on I-25 on Wyo Hill south of Cheyenne and along I-25 near Wheatland at Bordeaux. Many blown-over vehicles were underweight, and some trailers were even empty.
WYDOT updates the minimum weights listed on overhead digital messaging signs based on real-time wind speeds. Drivers are encouraged to check weight-based wind closure information often to ensure travel is permitted.
It’s not just commercial vehicles that are at risk, either; the department reports that campers, toy-haulers and other large trailers are also susceptible to blowing over in strong winds.
June skiing and pond-skimming at Arapahoe Basin in Colorado
Skiers and snowboarders soak in the sun and attempt to make it across a pond on a June day at Arapahoe Basin in Colorado
Snowy Range ski area is scheduled to open for the season on Dec. 12.
Daily lift ticket prices range from $40 for children to $69 for adults.
Snowy Range, one of the closest ski areas to Fort Collins, is scheduled to open for the season Dec. 12 and remain open through April 12, 2026.
The ski area had a snow depth of about 30 inches on Dec. 9, spokesperson Kate Lessman told the Coloradoan in an email.
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Daily lift tickets range in price from $59-$69 purchased onsite for adults, $52-$62 for teenagers ages 13-17 and $40-$50 for children ages 5-12. Children age 4 and younger and senior citizens age 70 and older can ski for free. Tickets purchased in advance online are discounted $5.
More: Complete Colorado ski resort guide
Snowy Range Ski and Recreation Area is located about 100 miles northwest of Fort Collins and 36 miles west of Laramie, Wyoming.
For additional information, visit the ski area’s website.
Coloradoan reporter Kelly Lyell can be reached at KellyLyell@coloradoan.com. Follow him on x.com/KellyLyell, threads.net/KellyLyell and facebook.com/KellyLyell.news.
