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GALLATIN, Tenn. – A Kentucky pastor was arrested in Gallatin, TN Tuesday for raping a 14-year-old member of his church.
WKRN News 2 reports that Roy Yoakem, 46, was already a registered sex offender when he was allowed to become the pastor of New Gospel Outreach Church in Scottsville, Ky.
He was registered as a violent sex offender in TN for a 2005 conviction for sexually abusing an eight-year-old boy.
“The bible teaches forgiveness and to give people chances and not to turn people away,” said Stephen Bratcher, the interim pastor at New Gospel Outreach Church. “If there is anything I can do to go back and change it I would.”
Police say Yoakem assaulted the 14-year-old victim at least two times: once at the church and once at his home in Gallatin.
Yoakem has been charged with aggravated statutory rape, sexual battery by an authority figure, statutory rape by an authority figure and fugitive from justice. Additional charges are pending and detectives believe there is at least one more victim.
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized should call the Gallatin Police Department at 615-452-1313.
WKRN News 2 contributed to this report.