Oklahoma - Megachurch Rocked by Reports of Sexual Assaults
Oklahoma - Megachurch Rocked by Reports of Sexual Assaults
A 17,000-member megachurch has been rattled by allegations that five employees waited two weeks to report the rape of a 13-year-old girl in a campus stairwell.
The Tulsa police say the girl is among at least three victims of sex crimes committed by two former employees of the church, Victory Christian Center.
The police said this week that the worldwide ministry’s pastor and co-founder, Sharon Daugherty, whose daily broadcasts are heard in more than 200 countries, knew about the accusations, but trusted employees to follow policies on reporting such assaults.
A former church employee, Chris Denman, 20, was arrested Sept. 5 on charges of raping the 13-year-old before a church service on Aug. 13. He also is charged with molesting a 15-year-old girl between Aug. 13 and Aug. 17.