Pastor sentenced to 25 years for lewd and indecent acts
By BP Staff
INOLA, Okla. (BP) – An Oklahoma pastor has been sentenced to 25 years for molesting girls who took horseback riding lessons at his ranch or stayed at his home.
Roy Shoop was pastor of Cowboy Gatherin’ Church in Inola, Okla. He was arrested in 2020 and charged with eight counts of lewd or indecent acts. He was found guilty on three of them. Shoop has maintained his innocence, including throughout the week-and-a-half-long jury trial.
Two victims were in the courtroom during the trial, and the prosecutor read impact statements from them to the jury.
“You have ruined my life and took my love for riding horses and being part of your family,” one victim wrote. “I looked at you as a Godly person and a strong Christian who baptized me but that changed (when you raped me). You broke my trust in the church. I felt betrayed, hurt, and angered because of what you did to me. I am scared to leave my house out of fear of seeing you or your followers. For years you have made up rumors about me and my family which has made living a normal life difficult and fearful.”
Brian Hobbs, communications director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, with which Shoop’s church is affiliated, said, “These instances are horrific and heartbreaking. We are thankful for law enforcement and for the work of the justice system.
“We will continue to resource churches to prevent abuse, and to act swiftly in accordance with the law in instances of reported abuse,” Hobbs continued in a statement for Baptist Press. “The church should be the safest place for individuals.”
Shoop plans to appeal the decision.
Former Oklahoma pastor arrested for lewd acts
By BP Staff
SLAUGHTERVILLE, Oklahoma (BP) – Former Oklahoma pastor James McMillan was arrested last month on charges of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16.
McMillan had served on staff with at least two churches – Slaughterville Baptist Church (now Cornerstone Baptist) in Slaughterville and First Baptist Church in Konowa. He has not served at a church in several years.
According to local media reports, multiple Department of Human Services and law enforcement cases list McMillan as a sexual abuse suspect going all the way back to 2003. It is unknown if any of his alleged crimes were against church members.
“We are disheartened by the reports concerning this former minister,” said Brian Hobbs of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. “We stand against abuse in every form and stand with abuse victims. We will continue to equip churches toward abuse prevention and to care for abuse survivors.”
If you are/have been a victim of sexual abuse or suspect sexual abuse by a pastor, staff member or member of a Southern Baptist church or entity, please reach out for help at 202-864-5578 or [email protected]. All calls are confidential.
