OK Youth Pastor Charged With Felony Child Sex Crimes

Oklahoma City’s NBC affiliate reports:

Wewoka Middle School principal and youth pastor, Cody Barlow was formally charged with two felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child under the age of 16 on Thursday. Barlow has been the WMS Principal since the 2019-2020 school year. A federal lawsuit filed on November 30 reveals graphic allegations of Barlow’s “grooming behavior” towards students.

The victim in that lawsuit, a then-6th grader, claims Barlow would initiate inappropriate contact in front of other Wewoka faculty members and parents.  On the morning of October 12, 2022, a WMS counselor walked into Barlow’s office and witnessed Barlow standing behind a 7th grade boy, rubbing the teen’s shoulders and thrusting his hips back and forth against the boy, according to the lawsuit.

Read the full article. My initial report on Barlow’s arrest was over six months ago and it’s not clear why he’s just now being charged. Since that report predates the start of our running tally, we’re adding him today.

Wewoka Middle School principal charged with sexually assaulting two students; more victims expected https://t.co/nU3ZW7CPnw

— KFOR (@kfor) April 15, 2023