Indianapolis pastor accused of rape, using money to solicit teens

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A pacesetter at an Indianapolis church is being accused of utilizing donations from his nonprofit to pay for intercourse acts and soliciting minors.

Tyree Coleman, 43, has been accused of rape.

“He was utilizing God to abuse youngsters,” stated LaChelle Norton, the mom of a kid concerned within the felony case.

In line with courtroom paperwork, police started investigating Coleman in 2022 after a teenage boy stated he was provided as much as $1,000 to have intercourse with him.

Investigators say a second teenage boy interacted with Coleman by way of FaceTime however solely prayed with him and by no means made any sexual advances.

Norton says her son, Christopher Johnson, was raped by Coleman at 15 years previous. “That rape modified his total life. At that second, Chris died when Tyree raped him.”

Norton stated, “Christopher referred to as me about 2, 3 o’clock within the morning, and he was screaming to the highest of his voice, ‘Ma, he simply raped me! And I advised Chris, I stated, “Run, run.’ I stated, ‘Simply run on your life, run, and I’ll name IMPD proper now.’”

The rape was reported in 2006 on the Temple of Refuge Church on North Guilford Avenue. Cops stated Coleman was an assistant pastor.

In a while, at 27 years previous, Johnson and one other man had been discovered useless in a west facet dwelling. Norton stated, “I promised my son that I might be his voice till the day each final person that damage him might be delivered to justice.”

The 2 youngsters stated that they had been exterior of a constructing in June close to Watkins Park. Whereas there, a gaggle of males waived at them. The 2 teenagers stated that one of many males, who they solely knew as “Elder Coleman,” commented on the poor situation of considered one of their footwear and requested he had Money App to ship him some cash.

Coleman additionally stated he wished to hope with them and he talked about that he would purchase them church garments. Then they exchanged numbers.

In line with courtroom paperwork, Coleman recognized himself as an elder of the Seven Pillars Church.

Investigators later positioned Coleman’s church, figuring out it as Seven Pillars Refuge, however additional investigation confirmed that the tackle was of one other enterprise.

Officers additionally positioned data on-line at refugeindy.org that recognized Coleman because the founding father of the nonprofit Refuge Place Indy, which makes use of donations to help the homeless individuals in Indianapolis.

Detectives checked with the Indiana Division of Workforce Growth and located that Coleman didn’t have one other recognized job on report aside from the elder of a church.

Police consider from these preliminary details that Coleman was utilizing donations from his nonprofit to pay for intercourse acts, not less than considered one of which was soliciting a minor.

Coleman was labeled as “a Sexually Violent Predator” by the Indiana Division of Correction.