Former Church Daycare Worker Accused of Child Sex Abuse

By Bill Miller
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
January 5, 2013

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/01/04/former-church-daycare-worker-accused-of-child-sex-abuse/

-Police are looking for any more possible victims after a 19 year-old former church daycare volunteer was arrested on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 6.

The alleged assault took place inside the children’s ministry at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Lake Worth.

Court documents obtained by CBS11 say the victim, who is 4 years old, said a “boy put his mouth on him” and pointed to his crotch area.

The search warrant, obtained by CBS 11, says the boy told his mother what happened as they were leaving church.

When the family went back in, documents say the boy pointed at a teenage volunteer, 19-year-old Ryan Welborn, and the child’s mother went after him.

Welborn had to be put in a safe room, according to court documents, to separate him from the boy’s mother.

Court documents say the boy has had nightmares about the incident.

Police took DNA samples from both the child and Welborn, which were later analyzed.

Once police got the results, they obtained an arrest warrant.

Welborn was arrested on January 2nd and released under a $30,000 bond.

Ryan Welborn, 19, a former church daycare worker was arrested and charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. (credit: Lake Worth Police Dept.)

Pastor Jim Turner, who has been head of the Metropolitan Baptist Church for two years, was stunned to hear the allegations.

“We’re heartbroken for everybody, for both families and praying for them,” he said.

The Welborn family have been long time members of the church. Welborn had been volunteering there with children for about a year, with no problems.

Though Turner believes there are no other victims, the church stepped up security as a precaution, adding cameras to every part of the children’s church and adding background checks on volunteers, as well as employees.

Lake Worth authorities say while they are preparing the case for trial their investigation continues. They are now encouraging anyone with information about this incident, or any other situation or circumstance involving Welborn, to contact police.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective B. Benningfield at (817) 237-1224.

Contact: wmiller@star-telegram.com