An Oklahoma man has resigned as pastor of St. Andrew's Church of Christ in Tulsa after his daughter accused him of horrific child molestation and incest crimes in social media posts.
Bertheophilus Maurice “Judge” Bailey Sr. is accused of starting a multi-year abuse spree when the victim was in the sixth grade, according to an affidavit. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon.
“I call him my best friend only to hide the reality I was living in.”
“As a victim of sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of Pastor Bailey for over a decade, I feel obligated to warn others of his predatory behavior,” she wrote on Facebook. I wrote it. “Despite his status as a respected member of the community, it is imperative that we shine a light on his actions to prevent further harm to unsuspecting people.”
The abuse reportedly began when the pastor prayed over the girl's body and took advantage of the opportunity to touch her. Prosecutors say the abuse worsened as the girl grew older.
“He prayed for me at first, and while he was praying he touched me a lot,” Harmony Oates he told KJRH-TV.
The affidavit included damning text messages allegedly exchanged between the two.
“I'm an adulterer. I'm a child molester. I'm a rapist,” he allegedly wrote in one text message.
Police said in a separate document that Bailey admitted to watching pornography, including incest, and justified acting out what he saw in the pornography. They also reportedly obtained recordings and other witness statements supporting her accusations.
“The problem is, every time I was a kid, I was separating my dad from who he was. That was the only way I was going to survive,” Oates continued. “I call him my best friend only to hide the reality I was living in.”
She said she first told her husband and then her brother before having the difficult conversation with her mother.
“If we can come out of the darkness by speaking out, we can survive,” she added.
Bailey is being held on $500,000 bail. He is charged with incest, child molestation, forcible sodomy, first-degree robbery, and two counts of first-degree rape.
Oates said he is rediscovering God after the abuse allegations.
“I'm learning more and I know he has me and he has other victims. And I know he's guiding me through this whole journey. And I also know that even if my dad didn't, he would be there for me like a dad.'' Oats said.
As of Friday, Bailey has yet to be identified church website He was active as a pastor, but reportedly resigned.
A news report on this horrific allegation can be found at: KOKI-TV YouTube channel.
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