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Former Youth Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Texas Admits to Molestion Years Ago [UPDATE]

August 12th, 2012 AT2W Staff

Former Youth Music Pastor of Plano, Texas Church Admits to Molestation 

John Langworthy, a former youth music minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, admitted to molesting at least one of his young students in the late 1980s.

At least three former students — two at Prestonwood and one in Mississippi — have privately told their stories to former Prestonwood staff member Amy Smith, who has been trying to warn anyone who would listen.

“In the summer of 1989 — June, exactly, when the allegations came out about John Langworthy,” said Smith, a Houston resident and local leader of the non-profit group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP.

After Smith tried for more than a year to bring the alleged abuses to light using social media, Langworthy took to the pulpit Sunday in Mississippi to confess his sins in two different states.

“Prior to coming to Clinton 22 years ago, while serving at a church in Mississippi and then Texas, I had sexual indiscretions with younger males,” Langworthy told the congregation. “These decisions were ungodly, and I deeply regret them.”

Smith said she is in contact with two of the alleged victims, who say the abuse included physical contact. For one, it allegedly occurred over the course of 15 months.

A third alleged victim told News 8 that Langworthy would regularly spend the night with teenage boys, and was once in the same bed with him.

Langworthy voluntarily resigned from his position at the church.

UPDATE: Here’s a timeline to Justice:

In September 2011, the former youth pastor John Langworthy was arrested and indicted on several sex counts:

Officials have confirmed to Fox 40 News that Langworthy is charged with 8 counts of Gratification of Lust in both Clinton and Jackson.Investigators say the crimes happened between 1980 and 1984 and involved a total of 5 victims, ranging in age between 8 and 12 years old.  Officials say Langworthy would have been 18-24 years old during the crimes.

In Oct. 2011, the former pastor plead not guilty to sex crimes.

An April 2012 report stated:

The criminal trial of confessed child molesting minister John Langworthy, originally set for April 2, has been scheduled for *July 30 in Hinds County in Jackson, Mississippi. He is charged with 8 felony counts of gratification of lust for 5 victims, boys between the ages of 8-12. This abuse took place in Clinton and Jackson, MS between 1980-84 while he served at 2 area Baptist churches, First Baptist Jackson and Daniel Memorial Baptist Church, while he was attending Mississippi College.

UPDATE on Aug. 13, 2012: Our friends over at Watch Keep have informed us that Langworthy has a trial date scheduled for Nov. 26.

Original report from WFAA.com

Posted in Church Issues, Church Sex Scandals Tags: Amy Smith, John Langworthy, Morrison Heights Baptist Church, Prestonwood Baptist Church

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5 Responses to “Former Youth Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Texas Admits to Molestion Years Ago [UPDATE]”

1. JudyJones says:

   August 12, 2012 at 2:36 pm

   Let’s hope that every person who saw, suspected or may have suffered sex crimes by John Langworthy, will find the courage and strength to speak up, call police, protect others, and start to heal.
2. watchkeep says:

   August 12, 2012 at 11:46 pm

   The trial for John Langworthy is now set for Nov. 26, 2012 in Hinds County in Jackson, Mississippi.
3. AT2W Staff says:

   August 13, 2012 at 9:13 am

   Thank you so much for the update. We have corrected it for our readers. God bless!
4. AT2W Staff says:

   August 13, 2012 at 9:15 am

   We are praying more victims will begin to speak up and know they will be preventing others from harm as well. Thanks Judy! We have linked your name in the article for our readers future reference. Thanks again.