Statesboro youth pastor charged with child molestation

STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) - The youth pastor at a Statesboro church has been arrested on enticing a child and child molestation charges.

Douglas Randall Pope, 31, of Statesboro, was charges with three counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes and one count of child molestation.

The Criminal Investigations Bureau of the Statesboro Police Department got a complaint May 20 that a 14-year-old girl was being molested by a 31-year-old man.

The complainant told investigators that man was the youth pastor of Merrywood Baptist Church in Statesboro, according to Statesboro police.

The victim said inappropriate behavior and touching happened over the past two years and also involved other girls. More interviews were conducted with other girls and more complaints were received.

Detectives executed a search warrant Tuesday at Pope's apartment at 315 S. Zetterower Ave. Computers, cameras and related digital media were seized from the apartment.

Pope was home at the time and was later interviewed at the Statesboro Police Department about the complaints, according to police.

The investigation continues and more charges are anticipated in this case.

The Merrywood Baptist Church was alerted by police about Pope's arrest.

Police said the church is cooperating with the investigation.

Those with information about the case are asked to contact the Criminal Investigative Bureau of the Statesboro Police Department at 912.764.9911.

Information can also be submitted online at Crimereports.com and click on the "submit a tip" link.

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