Pastor arrested for rape of 2 minors

oge okonkwo

January 9, 2015 6:01 PM

The charges against the pastor include 20 counts of sexual abuse, 11 counts of sodomy and three counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct.

An evangelical pastor from Oregon is facing 37 charges of alleged rape and abuse that involves two children — one boy and one girl.

37-year-old James Daniel Worley who served as the senior pastor at Powell Valley Church in Gresham, was arrested on Dec. 30 in Multnomah County following a Dec. 16 grand jury indictment.

The sex crimes are said to have taken place 10 to 12 years ago.

Worley, who also worked as a Tillamook police officer, is now being held on bail. The charges against him include 20 counts of sexual abuse, 11 counts of sodomy and three counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct.

Documents reveal that the alleged abuse took place between September 1, 2002, and June 30, 2004, while the children were under the ages of 14 and 12.

They also state Worley "did unlawfully and knowingly induce (the victims) … to engage in sexually explicit conduct for a person to observe" in the latter of the three charges.

Deschutes County prosecutors didn't reveal Worley's relationship with the victims but did not believe he was a pastor at the time during the incidents.

However, they do suspect there might be more victims.

Worley tweeted out an inspiration message on the day he was taken into custody.

"Stormy weather has arrived. About to find out two-things: who our real friends are and how our God glorifies himself," wrote Worley on Dec. 30. "#Psalm35 #GlorytoGod."

A former member of his church spoke to Katu.com about the matter.

"It's really devastating," said Lily Prosch, a former member of the church. "Pastors are trusted individuals so why would you think to second guess a person like that?"

Prosch's mother worked as a secretary at the church and said her son still attends youth group at Powell Valley. She also said she believed Worley led prayer groups for youth at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham.

"That scares me," she said. "My son is a student at that school and I would hate to think that (Worley) would have any further access to my child. If there is anybody else out there that was hurt by this man, please feel free to come forward and stand up for yourself and what happened, and say this isn't right, and I'm not going to allow this to happen."

oge okonkwo