Former Baptist pastor indicted
Posted on 02/08/2003 4:22:45 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Former Baptist pastor indicted
Minister who left Flower Mound in 2001 faces sex charges
02/08/2003
A former Flower Mound Baptist pastor has been indicted by a Denton County grand jury in connection with sexual misconduct involving a 14-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s.
Grand jurors issued two indictments this week against Michael Wayne O'Guin, 34, who left The Church at Wichita Creek in Flower Mound amid allegations of misconduct in August 2001.
Mr. O'Guin, who arrived at the church in fall 1999, now lives in Tennessee.
Denton County District Attorney Bruce Isaacks said his office will seek to extradite Mr. O'Guin to Texas.
Mr. O'Guin was indicted on charges of the sexual assault of the girl and the attempted sexual assault of the woman. Officials say the later incident took place at the church.
Mr. O'Guin declined to comment Friday. He works at an insurance company in Dyersburg, Tenn.
He referred questions to his attorney, Knox Fitzpatrick, in Dallas. Mr. Fitzpatrick could not be reached for comment.
The girl was raped in spring 2001, said Flower Mound police Lt. Wendell Mitchell. The incident occurred at a residence on Devonshire Court in Flower Mound, according to police reports. Mr. O'Guin at one time lived on that street, Lt. Mitchell said. The girl reported the incident in September, he said.
The incident involving the woman occurred in fall 2000 at the church on Wichita Trail, Lt. Mitchell said. She reported the crime to police in October, he said.
Attempted sexual assault is a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison. Sexual assault is a second-degree felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
"He is innocent until proven guilty, but any time you have an allegations of a sex crime involving a minister, that's fairly egregious," Mr. Isaacks said. "Any allegations like this tears up a church. This church, from what I understand, has pretty well recovered. They're moving down the road, but nevertheless, it had to be done."
The church's current pastor, David Sylvester, said in a written statement that the church is cooperating with authorities.
"The pastor and leadership group of The Church at Wichita Creek in Flower Mound has only recently been informed by local law enforcement officials of the pending legal charges against Mr. O'Guin," said Dr. Sylvester, who joined the church in June. "As church leaders, we are fully cooperating with all requests from legal authorities and trust that this matter will be resolved in a manner fully consistent with the law."
He said the Flower Mound church, which has about 175 members, is recovering and counseling is being offered.
"The church is a healthy church that has experienced growth in recent days and has a bright future," Dr. Sylvester said. "Our primary concern and prayer as a church is for the full restoration and spiritual healing of all the individuals who may have been involved in this matter."
Lt. Mitchell said he did not know why the women did not alert police sooner.
Two weeks after the second report was made, Flower Mound detectives traveled to Tennessee to question Mr. O'Guin, Lt. Mitchell said. He was arrested on the two charges and taken to the Dyer County jail.
Lt. Mitchell declined to say whether Mr. O'Guin gave investigators a statement.
Mr. O'Guin was released after posting a $1,000 bond the same day, Dyer County jail officials said.
Mr. Isaacks said that he was surprised when the Tennessee court set such a low bail for Mr. O'Guin.
"I'd be shocked if a ... [Texas] judge released someone like that on a $1,000 bond," Mr. Isaacks said.
He added that Mr. O'Guin's father-in-law is the Dyersburg police chief. The chief did not return phone calls Friday.
Mr. O'Guin was formerly a minister in Brookport, Ill., and also has lived in Missouri and Arizona, Mr. Isaacks said.
E-mail jtrahan@dallasnews.com
Mr. O'Guin was released after posting a $1,000 bond the same day, Dyer County jail officials said.
Mr. Isaacks said that he was surprised when the Tennessee court set such a low bail for Mr. O'Guin.
"I'd be shocked if a ... [Texas] judge released someone like that on a $1,000 bond," Mr. Isaacks said.
Amazing. $1,000 bail. I bet that changes by the time he gets to Texas...if he doesn't high-tail it first.
Do the Tennessee and/or Texas authorities think the girl and the mother are lying?...
Has there been any further action on this indictment? I'm unable to find information following this story. If any is available, please notify by reply. Thank you.
I don't recall seeing anything further on this. It's been almost 2 years.If I find anything, I'll let you know.
Welcome to FreeRepublic.com.
Hello! I found your post about Mike O'Guin and was curious to know if you knew whether he was ever tried for these alleged crimes. I knew Mike when his father pastored my home church in Illinois. Any further info on this matter that you know of?
Thanks,
Scott
I haven't heard.I've got a few things to do right now (lunch, install a new Browser),
but when I get back online here, I will snoop around and see what I
can find.Oh, and welcome to FreeRepublic.com .....
:^)
LOL!
What's really funny is that I posted this thread over 2 years ago and (until you're comment), the only replies to me was from newbies that found this thread via Google (or some kind of search), posted ONCE here and that's all.
Seemed a bit odd to me too, but there you go. And you forgot to welcome me to FR ;)
Durn Meek I'm reading this like its something new then I realize it was last year.
I must be bored.
RB;^)
Sad if true.
Sometimes Satan gets control of a Church and wont let go.
Welcome, ***newbie*** :)Images of Seinfeld's Newman come to mind.
Wow, what a mess!
haha! It was over TWO years ago. :^D
We hung in there for quite a while. They had guest pastors for months. The "leaders" of the church insisted the new pastor work two campuses and do FIVE sermons on Sunday. Nobody would take the job and its no wonder. We eventually left that church. As a relatively new believer and only having been at two other churches in my life, this was all pretty upsetting and bizarre to me.
So, help me out here. Whose website is this? Do YOU have personal knowledge of the alleged here?
Sorry!!! I directed my question to the wrong person!! Forgive me. I am EXTREMELY CURIOUS about this case. Was wondering if you are personally involved with the alleged or is this just your job??? Forgive my ignorance.
I am very curious to know what happened in the end??? I was told he took a no contest plea and is on probation. Is there some way we could find out the truth?? Thank You!
Okay, I'll help you out.
1. This is Jim Robinson's site.
2. I don't have personal knowledge of the articles claims but I do have personal knowledge of what I posted.
3. You just signed up today to post this junk?
Begone Troll!!
I'm not sure, really. I wasn't involved in this.
I just posted this article here.Welcome to FreeRepublic.com.
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