Southern Baptist list of alleged sexual abusers includes Oklahoma ties

At the least 20 people with Oklahoma ties are included in an inventory of alleged abusers which have been made public by the Southern Baptist Conference. 

The denomination’s Govt Committee delivered on its promise to reveal the listing, which was launched shortly earlier than 9 p.m. Thursday.  In accordance with an unbiased sexual abuse report on the denomination’s dealing with of sexual abuse allegations, the listing had been privately maintained by the group’s former common counsel August Boto and a employees member. The factors used for deciding who made the listing within the first place has not been disclosed.

Guidepost investigators indicated that the listing included 703 names, with 409 tied to Southern Baptist church buildings. The compilation launched on Thursday included about 700 names. Many had been cross-referenced by tales revealed by information shops, together with The Oklahoman and, most notably, the Houston Chronicle and the continued abusers database the newspaper created, together with the San Antonio Information Specific, for its 2019 bombshell investigative report referred to as “Abuse of Religion.” 

Extra: Oklahoma pastor referred to as for shared database of Southern Baptist’s sexual predators listing

Southern Baptists hope releasing listing of alleged abusers will encourage reform

“This listing is being made public for the primary time as an preliminary, however vital, step in addressing the scourge of sexual abuse and implementing reform within the Conference,” Willie McLaurin and Rolland Slade stated in a joint assertion on Thursday. McLaurin is the Govt Committee’s interim president and chief government officer, whereas Slade serves because the committee’s chairman.

“Every entry on this listing reminds us of the devastation and destruction led to by sexual abuse. … It’s our hope that releasing this listing locations a highlight on fact and transparency. Southern Baptists have made it clear that transparency within the space of intercourse abuse ought to be the norm.”       

Extra: Oklahoma Baptists communicate out on institution of Southern Baptist sexual abuse hotline

The 2 leaders stated the listing was being made public because it was offered to Guidestone Options. McLaurin and Slade famous that among the names had been redacted, together with data concerning the person’s offense. They stated authorized counsel suggested the Govt Committee to redact some data with the concept that the main points could be forthcoming in these circumstances.   

The pair stated the redaction of some names took place resulting from “figuring out data of survivors and/or different people unrelated to the offender.” Additionally, they stated most of the entries listing both an arrest or prices, however no disposition, thus these names had been redacted. McLaurin and Slade stated as of Could 24, the Govt Committee has carried out preliminary analysis and, the place responsible pleas, convictions, judgments, sentences, and/or inclusion on a intercourse offender registry may very well be simply verified, the entry was left unredacted.

Names of two different folks with Oklahoma ties had been redacted however not their alleged offenses. One particular person was listed as a Southern Baptist pastor who resigned from his church after being caught at a strip membership. A second particular person, additionally recognized as a Southern Baptist pastor, pleaded not responsible to molesting a lady in 2011.

Listed here are the folks with Oklahoma ties on the Southern Baptist Conference listing

The Oklahoman additionally redacted some names as a result of details about them was unverifiable.

Individuals with Oklahoma ties whose names and offenses had been included within the “secret” compilation, embody:  

• Roy Edward Williams, 2021. Williams is described as a former Southern Baptist preacher and longtime member of Bunker Hill Baptist Church in Vinita who preached occasionally. In November 2021, a federal grand jury indicted him on 5 counts of coercion and enticement of a minor in Indian Nation, 4 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Nation, one depend of sexual contact of a minor between 12 and 16 years previous in Indian Nation, and one depend of possession of kid pornography. The alleged abuse occurred between 2002 and 2018. Replace from The Oklahoman: In April 2022, Williams, 64, pleaded responsible to 5 counts of coercion and enticement of a minor in Indian Nation and to possession of kid pornography, in response to a spokesperson within the U.S. legal professional’s workplace for the Northern District of Oklahoma (in Tulsa). He’s in federal custody and awaiting sentencing.

• Jody Hilliard, 2018. Hilliard, a highschool principal in Elgin, was former assistant pastor at First Baptist Church in Duncan and minster of schooling at Central Baptist Church in Lawton. He was convicted of lewd and indecent proposals and acts to a baby underneath 12 in June and sentenced to seven years in jail and 18 years probation. He died in jail in 2018.

• Henry David Gleason, 2018. Gleason was a retired minister at Concord Star Freewill Baptist Church in Claremore when he was charged with sexual abuse of three ladies, the youngest age 7. Replace from The Oklahoman: In accordance with Oklahoma Corrections Division data, in 2019, Gleason was sentenced to 2 years in jail for 3 counts of lewd acts with a baby and sexual battery of an individual over 16. He was launched from jail in July 2021 and is on probation.  

• Benjamin Lawrence Petty, 2018. In 2016, Petty was a prepare dinner at Falls Creek youth camp at Falls Creek Baptist Convention Heart close to Davis, when he was accused of raping a 13-year-old lady. Petty was convicted in 2018 of first-degree rape, forcible sodomy and rape by instrumentation. He obtained a 15-year suspended sentence and no jail time. The Baptist Basic Conference of Oklahoma settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of the sufferer.

• Brian Burchfield, 2016. Burchfield was a former youth minister at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee. In accordance with the intercourse offender registry, he was convicted of soliciting a minor through the use of expertise and sentenced to 6 months in jail and 10 years probation. 

• Damien Keith Bonner, 2014. In accordance with the listing, Bonner was pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in Tulsa, and former pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Tulsa. He was sentenced to twenty years in jail for lewd molestation of a teenage lady in 2013 and sentenced to a consecutive three-year sentence for touching one other lady.

• Dustin Ray Werneburg, 2012. Wernerburg, a youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Coalgate, was convicted of rape and two counts of lewd and indecent acts or propositions to a baby in 2012. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail, plus a 30-year suspended sentence.  

• Joseph Monroe Leal, 2011. Leal was pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church of Henryetta when he was charged with sexting a 14-year-old lady after the 2 attended Summit Church Camp in 2009. He served at church buildings in Shawnee and Wellston, as nicely. He pleaded responsible in 2012 of utilizing expertise to have interaction in sexual communication with a minor. He was sentenced to 6 years in jail with three years suspended.

• Billy Ray Smith, 2010. Smith, a volunteer youth employee at Calvary Baptist Church in Durant, was convicted of forcible sodomy in 2010. He’s serving a 15-year-sentence in an Oklahoma jail. 

• Sean David Whisenhunt, 2009. Whisenhunt was youth minister at Central Baptist Church in Owasso. He was convicted of sexual battery in 2010 and obtained a suspended sentence. He was convicted of violating the phrases of his intercourse offender registration in 2014 and obtained one other suspended sentence. 

• Joshua Spires, 2009. Spires, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Jay, was convicted in 2009 after pleading responsible to 10 counts of lewd molestation of a minor. He served 9 years in an Oklahoma jail and was launched in 2018. He’s on probation/group supervision till 2029. 

• Darrell Gilyard, 2007/2008. Gilyard, who as soon as served at Hilltop Baptist Church in Norman, was additionally on employees at church buildings in Florida and Texas. In accordance with revealed stories, Gilyard was accused of inappropriate sexual misconduct with girls quite a few occasions at church buildings he served. He’s a registered intercourse offender in Florida for 2 2009 convictions of lewd and lascivious molestation of two teenage ladies, one between 12 and 15 years previous and one other youthful than 16. He went to work at one other church in 2012 after serving a three-year jail time period. 

• Charles W. “Chuck” Bryan Jr., 2008. Bryan was a youth volunteer at Chisholm Creek Baptist Church in Edmond. He obtained a 10-year jail sentence for lewd and indecent propositions and acts involving a 15-year-old lady. Bryan, who was additionally convicted of forgery, was incarcerated in Oklahoma and required to register as a intercourse offender upon his launch. 

• Kenneth Wayne Huneycutt, 2008. Huneycutt was former pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Ada when he pleaded responsible to molesting two boys and was sentenced to 13 years in jail. Within the listing, he’s described as being affiliated with an unbiased Baptist religion group and never the Southern Baptist Conference. 

• Aaron Matthew McDonald, 2002. McDonald was former music director at Dewar First Baptist Church in Dewar when he was accused of molesting a 15 year-old boy. He was additionally former music director of Calvary Baptist Church in Sulphur. Replace from The Oklahoman: McDonald was convicted of sexual battery of an individual over 16 and obtained a 10-year sentence, in response to the Oklahoma Correction Division’s offender database. He entered into the Oklahoma jail system in 2003 and was launched in 2005.

• David Glen Randol, 1996. Randol, former youth minister of Arrow Heights Baptist Church in Damaged Arrow, was accused of abusing a 13-year-old. In accordance with the listing, he dedicated suicide after police instructed him he could be charged with molestation and associated offenses. Replace from The Oklahoman: Randol died of a self-inflicted bullet wound in 1996 because the Tulsa County district legal professional’s workplace was getting ready to file felony prices towards him, in response to a report from the Tulsa World. The costs stemmed from allegations that Randol sexually abused a lady who attended Arrow Heights Baptist. Details about Randol’s case was the main focus of a report in The Oklahoman.

• Steve Lamberson, 1995. Steve Lamberson was pastor and principal of Liberty Heights Free Will Baptist Church in Tulsa. He was sentenced to 5 years in jail for molesting a youngster. Lamberson is listed as “Baptist kind unknown.”

• Roy E. Jones, 1992. Jones, pastor for 35 years of First Baptist Church of Del Metropolis, obtained a seven-year suspended sentence for abusing a number of ladies in 1986. 

• Thomas V. Cossairt, 1989. Cossairt was retired former pastor of First Baptist Church, Carter Lake, when he obtained a suspended one-year jail sentence and two years’ probation after pleading responsible to indecent contact with a baby. A cost involving a second little one was dropped.  

• In 2009, a pastor from Weleetka was convicted on six counts of home abuse and located not responsible of 9 counts of lewd molestation and assault and battery. 

• In 1999, a youth minister in Ardmore was charged with little one molestation. His Baptist affiliation is unknown, in response to the listing.

• In 2011, a Tulsa pastor was accused of sexually abusing a 7-year-old lady between 2003-2004 and once more from 2007-2010. The compiler of the listing famous that he didn’t know if the person was convicted nor did he assume know if the accused man was a Southern Baptist.