An Oklahoma pastor is facing rape and incest charges after his own daughter came forward in a Facebook post, revealing 10 years of worsening sexual abuse.
Pastor Berthoephilus Maurice "Judge" Bailey Sr. resigned from the St. Andrew Christian Church over the weekend following his arrest on charges of rape, child sexual abuse, and incest, according to FOX23.
Before Bailey resigned, his daughter revealed Bailey as her abuser in a Facebook post.
"As a victim of sexual and mental abuse at the hands of Pastor Bailey for over a decade, I feel compelled to warn others about his predatory behavior. Despite his status as a respected member of the community, it is essential to shed light on his actions to prevent further harm to unsuspecting individuals," she wrote.
Court records obtained by FOX23 state that the abuse took place at home and had started when the victim was in the sixth grade.
"It began with the defendant praying over her body and touching her," the document read.
The victim told law enforcement officials in Tulsa that as she grew older, it worsened when Bailey would discreetly enter her home and rape her.
The abuse allegedly continued into adulthood, where Bailey entered her home unannounced, pushed her to the floor, and sexually abused her just weeks after she gave birth.
Earlier this month, she and her mother contacted authorities about the reported abuse.
Text exchanges with law enforcement show Bailey admitting, "I am an adulterer. I am a child molester. I am a rapist."
Investigators said in another message, Bailey confessed to watching pornography involving incest and said, "He felt justified in acting out what was shown in the pornography because 'it was what people do'."
On Wednesday, Bailey's family released a statement to the woman, expressing:
"You are a strong, intelligent, and talented young woman. No one should ever have their trust and safety violated in such a horrific way. We are all so deeply sorry this happened to you."
Another alleged victim has since come forward following the woman's Facebook post, FOX23 reported.
An investigation is underway. Bailey is currently being held on a $500,000 bond.
Originally published in Lawyer Herald
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
