A Wyoming children's minister admitted he could not leave a girl alone with children after sexually abusing her during a Christmas vacation in Florida, police said.
Richard Scott Shaw, 69, was accused of groping victims under the age of 12 on two separate occasions while visiting the Polk County Sheriff's Office in the Sunshine State. “I gave in to temptation,” he told police. he said Wednesday.
Shortly after Shaw returned to Wyoming, the girl confided in her mother. Shaw serves as a worship leader in Command Ministries. The outraged parents called the pastor, who confessed to the pervert crime, but claimed it was an accident.
The girl was identified by police as one of two known victims of the show.
When he was taken into custody last week, he changed his demeanor and told officers he was “scared of the consequences.”
According to court documents, Shaw said, “I did not intend to hurt anyone.'' Obtained by law and crime.
Shaw allegedly told police that he had “succumbed to temptation” when he groped the girl and that he was suffering from a porn addiction.
Records show the minister denied detectives' accusations that he was a “sex offender” but acknowledged he should not be trusted to be around the girl again.
“When asked during the investigation, 'Should I leave the child?' he said, 'No, I don't,'” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference. .
“This person is a bad person.”
Wyoming State Police are conducting their own investigation to determine whether Shaw may have abused other children in his home state, where he belongs to several churches.
His main organization, the Command Ministry, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
“This man should never be allowed to interact with children again,” Judd said.
Shaw is charged with two counts of indecent sexual abuse of a child under 12.
