Denton County Clergyman Faces Child Sex Charges

By Jobin Panicker
WFAA
May 1, 2013

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/pastor-205702741.html

[with video]

DENTON COUNTY — A senior pastor at The Church of Corinth was allegedly recorded in about two hours of audio files attempting to persuade a female juvenile to undress, read an arrest affidavit released Thursday morning.

Jeffrey Dale Williams was jailed on charges of attempted sexual performance by a child. Bond was set at $10,000.

"He tried to entice her to take her clothes off so he could see her naked body," said Corinth police Capt. Greg Wilkerson.

According to the affidavit, Cpl. Jason Foutch received the audio files after responding to two complaints forwarded from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on April 3, four days after the alleged act. In the files, Williams can be heard asking the female to undress so he can see "eye candy" despite the female's pleas asking him to stop, the affidavit read. He allegedly used a chair to block the door as he talked with the female.

In a statement released by David Fink, a spokesman for the church, The Church of Corinth was not aware of the allegations previous to the arrest of the senior pastor.

"We have no knowledge of nor any reason to suspect any inappropriate behavior," Fink said. "We intend to and will fully investigate the allegations, and we will fully cooperate with the authorities. Our prayers go out to this family of our church."

The victim did later corroborate the audio tape and the incident.

"Man that's just scary," said Melissa Lain, who went to the church on rare occasions.

Wednesday night is when Church of Corinth holds a children's service. Pastor Williams would not have been there for that; the youth pastor runs the service.

"I'm just flabbergasted," said a church member who identified himself only as James. "There's something totally strange here."

Members told News 8 that Williams has been pastor at the church for several years.

"There may be an additional victim out there," Wilkerson said. "We're trying to contact her now."

Williams was being held at the Denton County Jail.

Contact: jpanicker@wfaa.com