Religion

Law & Crime reports: A 31-year-old church deacon in Florida will spend more than two decades behind bars for secretly filming young boys using the bathroom inside the church where he served and possessing “hundreds, if not thousands” of child pornography images and videos, prosecutors said. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor sentenced Jonathan High, a former deacon of …

New details on yesterday’s servant of Jesus: A Wyandotte pastor accused of abusing a child sent several sexually suggestive and inappropriate text messages to a juvenile victim, including one message about “wanting to smell her underwear,” court documents show. Fred McCoy Gammon, Jr, 42, of Miami, is charged in Ottawa County District Court with child sexual abuse. He is free …

The Macon Telegraph reports: A Macon pastor pleaded guilty Monday to child molestation and other charges related to an incident in which prosecutors said he offered a girl in her early teens — a stranger to him — a ride home from a sporting event at Stratford Academy as part of ruse to sexually assault her. Donald Eugene Williams, 33, …

The Christian Post reports: Controversial televangelist and prosperity preacher Peter Popoff, who amassed millions of dollars through his ministry hawking “debt cancelation” and healing “miracle water” advertised as a “powerful biblical point of contact,” is now selling his California mansion for $8.1 million. “Situated on 2.27 acres of stunning manicured grounds offering privacy plus stunning mountain & city light views,” …

Joplin’s NBC affiliate reports: A warrant was issued Monday for a Wyandotte pastor. Fred McCoy Gammon, Jr, 42, of Miami, is charged in Ottawa County District Court with child sexual abuse. A $35,000 warrant was also issued on Monday, court records show. Gammon is the pastor of Wayside Assembly of God church in Wyandotte. The church has taken down its …

The Christian Post reports: The Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII Sunday night. While the Eagles led through the entire first half of the game, the Chiefs came from behind in the second half to secure a tie-breaking victory with a field goal in the final seconds of the game. In postgame remarks after making a …

Indianapolis’s NBC affiliate reports: A 52-year-old day care director in Cumblerland is facing multiple charges after she allegedly gave melatonin gummies to kids without their parents’ consent. According to court documents, Tonya Rachelle Voris ran the Kidz Life Childcare Ministry at New Life Church. Court documents said pastor David Faulk told Cumberland police of potential child neglect at the day …

“My Christian faith plays a role in everything that I do. I mean, I always ask God to lead me in the right direction and let me be who I am for his name. So, it has a role in everything that I did. “And, obviously, it will be on a huge stage in the Super Bowl that he’s given …

The Ohio Times-Reporter reports: A 60-year-old man who formerly volunteered with a church youth ministry has received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years for raping and committing other sex offenses against two girls. Tuscarawas County Judge Michael J. Ernest sentenced Jeffrey A. Pringle Thursday on three counts of child rape and four counts of gross …

Denver’s CBS affiliate reports: Denver police and prosecutors are pursuing a rape case against a man who served as the music director at St. John’s School and church in southeast Denver, according to a CBS News Colorado investigation. Diego Marroquin, 36, is facing one charge of sexual assault on a child under the age of 15 by a person in …

NBC News reports: Pope Francis, the head of the Anglican Communion and top Presbyterian minister together denounced the criminalization of homosexuality on Sunday and said gay people should be welcomed by their churches. The three Christian leaders spoke out on LGBTQ rights during an unprecedented joint airborne news conference returning home from South Sudan, where they took part in a …

The Fairbanks Daily News reports: A local youth pastor indicted Wednesday on one count of felony second-degree sexual abuse of a minor was arrested Friday after turning himself in to Alaska State Troopers. David Duffett, 45, is listed on the Bible Baptist Church of Fairbanks’ website as the youth director, bus ministries director and teacher of the Teen Church and …

The New York Post reports: Morgan Daub, 26, and her parents, James Daub, 62, and Deborah Daub, 59, left detailed notes explaining they made the “joint decision” to end their lives together on Jan. 24 after Morgan told her parents she wished to commit suicide, the West Manchester Township Police Department said in a release. Police discovered the trio’s bodies …

Asheville’s ABC affiliate reports: Macon County authorities say a former youth pastor and current school employee was arrested and charged with felony indecent liberties with a child. Authorities say on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, officials with the Special Victims Unit of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office were investigating an allegation of sexual misconduct. Authorities arrested and charged Evan Jordan Jensen, …

CTV News reports: Aaron Benneweis, 46, has been charged by Saskatoon Police with sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor while in a position of trust or authority. A former student of Legacy Christian Academy – who CTV can not name because she is an alleged victim of sexual assault – says she came forward to SPS in August …

Fargo’s KFGO reports: A man who has been under investigation for inappropriate behavior at a Catholic church in Jamestown has been arrested for suspicion of committing sexual exploitation by therapist. According to Jamestown Police, 48-year-old Father Neil Pfeifer was arrested in Rugby, North Dakota on Wednesday. Pfeifer has been under investigation since Jan. 13 when Jamestown Police were contacted by …

Just in via press release: The Satanic Temple has announced the launch of its first reproductive health clinic, which will provide free religious medication abortion care in New Mexico. TST Health, The Satanic Temple’s religious medical services arm, will provide telehealth screenings and appointments and prescribe abortion medication for its patients. According to TST Health’s website, anyone in New Mexico …

The Christian Post reports: A Utah-based Christian K-12 academy fired four top administrators for their alleged involvement in what is potentially a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme involving tuition funds. The Layton Christian Academy has filed a lawsuit in an effort to recoup some of the losses and prevent the accused individuals from accessing the financial records. On Tuesday, the academy …

The Hudson Star-Observer reports: On Wednesday, Washington County District Judge Siv Mjanger in Minnesota sentenced Jason James Taylor, formerly a pastor at Calvary Chapel Solid Rock in New Richmond, to serve 45 days in Washington County Jail for his conviction on a single felony count of prostitution involving a teen 16 to 17 years old. Undercover agents posing as minors …

Buffalo’s NBC affiliate reports: A principal at a parochial school in Genesee County is accused of sexually abusing a child when he was a teacher several years ago. A Grand Jury indictment unsealed Monday says Jason R. Clark “engaged in two or more acts of sexual conduct with a child less than eleven years old.” At the time of the …