2010
Edwin House - Pastor arrested on sexual abuse charges Jan (OK)
2009
Dwayne Wilson - COGIC minister arrested for statutory rape Nov (TN)
Bruce L. Goss - Pastor convicted of molesting 13 year girl Oct (LA)
Clevon Ghent - Minister rapes 12 year old girl Sept (FL)
James H. Bell - HIV positive pastor arrested for sexual abuse Jan (KY)
Tony Ray Malbrough - Pastor arrested for sexual abuse of 4 boys Jan (MD)
2008
Fredrick Kelley - Bishop convicted of multiple child molestations April (GA)
Ronald Paige - Pastor murdered, new details surface Aug (AR)
Tyrone Forbes - Pastor arrested for sex with teen student April (MA)
TA Body - Former member reports sexual abuse to COGIC legal Sept (GA)
Duane Hammons - Pastor molests troubled teen 05.08 (TX)
Jerome Pitchford - Deacon charged with lewd public act May (WI) May
2007
Sherman Allen - Prominent pastor sued for sexual abuse Feb (TX)
Leonard Smith - Music minister convicted of molestation of 5 boys Dec (NC)
Bruce A. Curtis - Pastor arrested for fondling teen Dec (OH)
Willie Arnold - Pastor indicted for impregnating 13 year old member Nov (TX)
Ryan Baker - COGIC entertainer a convicted pedophile Feb (MI)
Willie L. Jefferson - Pastor given counseling for sex arrest May (TN)
2006
Larry Weems - Pastor settles out of court for sexual assaults 04.06 (MS)
2005
Reginald G. Robinson - Youth leader charged with molestation of 13 y/o girl (MO)
Stanley Jones - Preacher charged with sex crimes Sept (GA)
2004
Emos Parham - Asst Pastor sentented for molesting 13 y/o boy (IL) Mar 2006
2003
Roy Tate - COGIC sued for $10 million over sexual abuse of teen Nov (OR)
Issac Goodwater (CT) See NIBR
2002
MacFranklin Alexander - Youth min arrested for teen sexual assault Sept (CO)
Joseph Carroll Edwards - Pastor convicted for sexual assault of daughter April (WA)
1992
Wendell Beets - Pastor charged in rape of 19 yr old member (IA) 08.92
1991
1988
Leon Dupree (NY) See NIBR
Non-internet based reports
(1) Rev. Leon Dupree, a district superintendent and pastor of Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ in Rochester, NY, is charged with first degree sexual assault of a 26 year old woman. Rome NY Daily Sentinel 5.28.88
(2) The janitor of the Bethel Church of God in Christ in Kansas City, KS is in jail on charges of sex crimes. Police said 47-year-old Clarence Garrison is facing four felonies of indecent liberties with a child. They said Garrison took advantage of children at his home and inside the church.
(3) Ruben Thankful Thompson of Real People COGIC, Waverly, Florida was arrested for five counts of incest of his daughter. Some church members said there had been rumors for some time but many disbelieved and dismissed the allegations. The Voice Newspaper Richmond VA. 12.29.07
(4) Isaac Goodwater, former pastor at the Emmanuel COGIC in Taftville, CT was arrested in 2003 and charged in connection with the alleged assault of two girls. Goodwater reached an agreement with state prosecutors and pleaded no contest to two counts of coercion. He received a suspended sentence and two years of conditional release in 2005.
(5) Rev. William Bosley of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 55 years in prison for sexually abusing a six year old girl in his church while her blind mother was cleaning the building. Bosley founded the Sunrise Church of God in Christ, Waukegan, Illinois, in 1969. He also pleaded guilty to sexually abusing the child's 12 year old sister in the home of their grandmother. The sentencing took into account Bosley's recent conviction for firing a gun into a car. He had served a 28-month sentence for sexual abuse of an 11 year old girl in Washington state 20 years before. Sentencing Judge Walter Block stated: "He took his position, duty and responsibility and used it to facilitate his criminal behavior." Assistant state attorney Victoria Rossetti, of Lake County, stated: "These people trusted him. He helped them, but he continuously violated these young girls." (Source: Chicago Tribune, 10/22/87)
Help us document convicted sexual abusers in COGIC.
If you are aware of a publicly documented case involving COGIC clergy, please send RCA the information. This helps to keep the scope of this issue at the forefront in our push for acknowledgement and implementation of victims ministry
We can only accept documented cases. A news report or a court case file is sufficient.
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