By Cheryl Glassford
13 News
December 17, 2011
http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/december/359327/Fourth-pastor-arrested-in-one-week-on-child-sex-charges-in-Polk-County
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| Arnold Mathis was arrested by Polk County Sheriff's deputies in August 2004 and in January 2011 for failure to register as a sex offender. |
LAKELAND --
A Polk County church pastor arrested on five counts of sexual battery on a child is scheduled to make his first appearance in court this morning.
Polk County Sheriff's detectives arrested Winter Haven resident Arnold Mathis, 40, on Saturday.
It's the fourth time in one week a church pastor has been arrested and charged with one or more child sex-related crimes in Polk County.
Mathis is a current assistant pastor at Higher Praise Ministries, in Lake Wales, but officials said the incident happened in 2005 while he was the senior pastor at Saint City Power and Praise Ministries, in Winter Haven.
According to officials, Mathis met the victim at a basketball game and turned into a mentor to the child.
Detectives said Mathis approached the boy and offered financial help, including offering to buy new shoes.
The victim did not have a father figure in his life and felt that Mathis was trying to be a mentor.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Mathis wasn't what he seemed: "He's a monster."
Judd said monster truly describes Mathis.
"Arnold Mathis was the master of grooming. He had grooming children down to an art," Judd said.
Victim comes forward
Detectives said the victim contacted PCSO deputies Friday and advised them of the alleged sexual battery incidents from 6 years ago.
The victim said the alleged abuse occured in Mathis' home and other places.
According to an arrest report, then 34-year-old Mathis met the victim at a local park, took him to his home and engaged in oral sex with the 14-year-old boy.
After the alleged incident was over, Mathis allegedly gave the victim a $100 bill and told him to buy a prepaid phone to allow the two to communicate.
Over the the next two months, Mathis is accused of engaging the victim in more sexual activity, and providing more gifts and money.
Officials said the incident occurred seven years ago, when the victim was a 14-year-old. The victim is now 21.
"Children are not safe around him," Judd said.
Suspect's current church head pastor speaks
The head pastor of Mathis' current church, Harold Lonton, said Mathis is, in fact, an associate pastor at the church.
Lanton would not say if Mathis is a youth pastor or if they have any prior knowledge of Mathis' sexual offenses.
Lanton said Mathis was a volunteer and was not in a paid position.
He said the church never had any problems with Mathis.
History of sexual abuse
Mathis was arrested by Polk County Sheriff's deputies in August 2004 and in January 2011 for failure to register as a sex offender.
Mathis was required to register as a sexual offender after a 1997 Leon County conviction. He served 4 years for the crime.
Judd said "the shock of this investigation is, he's already a sex offender, he's already been to prison and he's still a youth pastor or associate pastor? That's terrible."
Disturbing string of child-related sex crimes arrests shock Bay area
Also arrested this week were Mulberry youth pastors Ricardo Navarro, 28, and Edward Demoreta, 30.
Navarro had been a youth pastor at First Assembly of God church in Mulberry until he was asked to leave one year ago.
He was accused of flirting with a 14-year-old girl during his time at the church. The alleged victim said that two weeks ago, Navarro began sending her text messages asking her to send him nude pictures of herself. Navarro has admitted to inappropriate relations with the minor.
The pastor of the church, Lee Thomas, contacted the sheriff's office over concerns about his most recent youth pastor, Demoreta. Thomas was suspicious that Demoreta was having inappropriate relations with the same girl.
The investigation found that two years ago, when Demoreta was a teacher at Mulberry Middle School, he engaged the victim, who was 13 at the time and a student of his, in oral sex. The investigation also found that he engaged in sexual relations with the girl on two more occasions. -- DETAILS
Auburndale youth pastor arrested Monday
A 25-year-old youth ministry leader at an Auburndale church is facing lewd molestation charges.
Lakeland Police arrested Darryl Leonard Taylor, Jr. Monday night.
According to police, the investigation began on November 14, 2011, when a father contacted police to report his child had been sexually molested by Taylor.
Police say the victim had revealed to an elder at the church that he had been molested by Taylor and the elder contacted the child's father.
Police say an investigation revealed three other victims. -- DETAILS
- ALSO:
The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested the head football coach at Lakeland's George Jenkins High School on sex-related charges against children.
Matt Thompson, 30, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with having sex with a 17-year-old female student, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference. Judd said Thompson had sex with the girl at least three times. -- DETAILS
St. Pete College baseball coach busted in child sex sting December 6:
St. Petersburg College baseball coach Robert Francis is out on bond after being arrested in a sex sting.
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Francis was busted in an underage sex sting in Orlando.
Deputies said Francis, 31, planned to have sex with a 14-year-old girl he met online. The girl was actually a sheriff's deputy, who told him to show up at a Kirkman Road home. -- DETAILS
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