Reporting the Truth.
Restoring the Church.
By Sheila Stogsdill
Ex-pastor Paul Coleman of Wichita Falls, Texas. (Photo courtesy of Wichita Falls Jail)
A former Wichita Falls, Texas, pastor was sentenced to 30 years last week for sexually assaulting two preteen girls.
Although Paul Andrew Coleman, 69, was scheduled for trial on July 14, the Pentecostal pastor pleaded guilty on July 11 to three less serious charges against him. They included two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child/sexual conduct, according to KFDX-TV in Wichita Falls.
As part of the plea agreement, the most serious charge, that of continuous sexual abuse of a child, was dismissed.
The Times Record News reported that Coleman’s sentence was reduced after by 540 days for time served in the Wichita County jail.
Coleman’s case centers on the sexual assault of two preteen girls who had attended his church, Good Samaritan Outreach Ministries in Wichita Falls. The Pentecostal ministry did not have a working phone number.
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The first two offenses occurred on Nov. 19 and Oct. 1, 2022; the third and fourth offenses occurred June 1and Nov. 30, 2022, KFDX reported.
One victim, then 11 years old, told investigators that Coleman began kissing her at the church and in his home. Reportedly, the victim had gone to the church’s bathroom, and when she came out, she found Coleman with his pants down around his ankles before he sexually assaulted the preteen.
As the victim pushed Coleman away, she told authorities that Coleman threatened to kill her if she told anyone what happened, the Wichita Falls station reported.
The victim’s brother saw the assault and was also threatened if he told.
Court documents say the assaults began around 2020, KFDX reported.
Sheila Stogsdill is a freelance print journalist and digital reporter, primarily covering crime issues for KSN/KODE.
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