HIGH POINT (NC)
Charlotte Observer [Charlotte NC]
August 30, 2024
By Natalie Demaree
A youth pastor in North Carolina was charged with 30 counts of sexual battery after a “months-long” investigation involving teenagers, police said.
Detectives arrested James R. Murphey, a former church employee, at a home in High Point around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, according to a news release from the city’s police department.
Throughout the investigation, which began in January, the High Point Police Department’s Special Victims Unit identified several individuals between the ages of 16 and 19 who were allegedly assaulted in 2023, police said.
Murphey, 44, who goes by his middle name Robert, was working at Oak View Baptist Church in High Point during this time, Chris Martin, the church’s safety director, told McClatchy News.
Murphey was a youth pastor at the church for almost 24 years, Martin said.
“He was in charge of all youth activities,” he said. “Bible Study on Wednesday night, youth events on campus and off the campus as well.”
Murphey interacted with more than 100 youth at church each week, WGHP reported.
Church leaders suspended Murphey after learning about the allegations in late January, and shortly after, he resigned, Martin said.
“We’re now having specifically to pray for Robert — the situation that he’s in as well as the victims and the families,” he said.
High Point is located about 80 miles northeast from Charlotte.