Former Shawnee Youth Pastor Charged with Four Felonies

The News-Star
August 13, 2015

http://www.news-star.com/article/20150812/NEWS/150819898

A former Shawnee youth pastor who was arrested in late July on complaints involving sex crimes is now formally charged with four felony counts.

Brian K. Burchfield, 42, of Edmond, is charged in Pottawatomie County District Court with four counts of soliciting sexual conduct or communications with a minor by use of technology.

Those charges stem from an investigation by Shawnee police that reportedly involved text messages between Burchfield and several teenagers from the area.

At the time of his arrest, Burchfield’s online LinkedIn page listed him as being the young adult pastor at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Edmond, but he was the former youth pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee from June 2006 to April 2014.

Burchfield was booked into the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center on the complaints and was later released after posting $50,000 bond.

His next court date hasn’t yet been scheduled.

Following his arrest, Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee posted this statement on its website:

“We are very saddened to hear of the allegations regarding Brian Burchfield, a former minister at our church,” it read.

“We have no indications whatsoever that any inappropriate conduct occurred while Brian was an employee at Immanuel. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement officials and have provided them all of the information we have. We are praying for any people affected and trusting God to provide His presences and peace at this difficult time.”

Watch for further updates on this case.