For immediate release: Thursday, March 26, 2009

Baptist minister accused of sex abuse; Support group responds

For immediate release: Thursday, March 26, 2009

Statement by Barbara Dorris, SNAP National Outreach Director, 314-862-7688

Rarely do sexual predators strike only once. So we believe there are others who've been hurt by this Baptist minister.

We hope that anyone who saw, suspected or suffered crimes or questionable misdeeds by this clergyman calls police immediately. When victims and witnesses speak up, there's a chance for justice, healing and prevention. But when victims and witnesses stay silent, predators walk free and kids get hurt.

We applaud this brave teenager for having the courage to report to law enforcement. It's crucial that clergy sex crimes be treated as crimes and disclosed to the independent professionals in law enforcement, not the biased amateurs in church offices. We hope that this arrest will bring this teenager some measure of comfort and healing.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 20 years and have more than 8,000 members across the country. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, 314-645-5915 home), Peter Isely (414-429-7259) Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Mary Grant (626-419-2930), Mark Serrano (703-727-4940)

http://newsok.com/minister-from-the-village-accused-in-teen-sex/article/3356418

Minister from The Village accused in teen sex
Before leaving Village Baptist, suspect worked with youths in same age group as accuser
BY JOHNNY JOHNSON, March 26, 2009

THE VILLAGE — A youth minister at Village Baptist Church was arrested this week after a 15-year-old told police she had a sexual encounter with him.

A youths and parents meeting was set Wednesday night at the church.

Doug Davis, 30, was arrested Monday at the church on complaints of second-degree rape, rape by instrumentation and making lewd proposals to a minor under the age of 16.

Police said the girl is not affiliated with the church and is not a member of the youth group.

"They were apparently family friends,” The Village Deputy Police Chief Steve Jagosh said.

He said Davis is accused of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with the girl and, in two instances, having sexual contact with her.

Authorities learned of the accusations over the weekend when the girl’s parents took her to police to file a report.

Jagosh said he doesn’t think there were other victims, but because Davis worked with youths in the same age group, the investigation is continuing.

Davis was booked into the Oklahoma County jail and on Tuesday was released on $40,000 bail.

Church leaders would not comment on the arrest, but an e-mail sent to church members states that because "of a situation in the life of Doug Davis, he has resigned as our student minister.”

Two protective orders were filed against Davis on Monday in district court.