More than 50 Florida pastors on Southern Baptist Church’s list of alleged sexual abusers
More than 50 Florida pastors were included in a newly unveiled list of suspected sexual predators linked to Southern Baptist churches.
The list, which included hundreds of names and the details of their crimes, was revealed as part of an external investigation by the Guidepost Solutions firm. Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention hired the group to look into allegations of sexual misconduct last summer, NBC News reports.
The 205-page list of names details allegations and, in many cases, convictions against pastors, clergymen and other church officials who worked in SBC churches throughout the South.
In a statement posted online Thursday evening, SBC leaders said they hoped to address “the scourge of sexual abuse” and implement reform by publishing the list for the first time.
“Each entry in this list reminds us of the devastation and destruction brought about by sexual abuse,” SBC wrote. “Our prayer is that the survivors of these heinous acts find hope and healing, and that churches will utilize this list proactively to protect and care for the most vulnerable among us.”
The list, which had been secretly compiled over the past several years under direction from church leaders, includes 585 names, Baptist Press reports. Many of the listed allegations and convictions span from the early 1990s to 2018.
A review of the list found that 53 of the alleged sexual abusers on the list were active in Florida. Many of them worked as youth pastors.
SBC leaders are also asking victims to report abuse confidentially by calling (202) 864-5578 or sending an email to SBChotline@GuidepostSolutions.com.
Which Florida SBC pastors are accused of sexual abuse?
Matthew Christopher Porter, Bradenton, Bethel Baptist Church: In 2007, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Porter after a house sitter found footage that he recorded of young girls showering and changing. Porter pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 120 days in jail. Less than three years later, Porter was caught trying to film people undressing at a nursing home in Texas.
Robert Harvey Alexander, Tampa, First Baptist Church of Tampa
Dan Earl Allmond, Tampa, Tampa Baptist Church
Kenneth Baxley, Lakeland, Central Baptist Community Ministries
Dana Brashear, Ft. Myers, Crossroads Baptist Church
Brian Siegfried Brijabag, Brooksville, First Baptist Church of Brooksville
Robert Browning, Jacksonville, Cedar Creek Baptist Church
Jim Kilburn Bruce, Palatka, College Park Baptist Church
Jeffrey Lamar Carter, Starke, Madison Street Baptist Church
Anthony Phillips Denton, Jacksonville, Trinity Baptist Church
Jerome Dieuseul, Miami, South Florida Baptist Church: accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.
Stephen Lee Edmonds, Jacksonville, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville
Bobby Harold Epps, Starke, church unknown
Harley Francis, Orlando, Powers Drive Baptist Church
Jermey Patrick Gable, Port St. Lucie, First Baptist Church of Port St. Lucie
Keith Geren, Miami, Wayside Baptist Church: sentenced to 15 years in prison for molesting 12 boys. Now a registered sex offender in Sarasota.
Tommy Gilmore, Oviedo, First Baptist Church of Oviedo
Darrell Gilyard, Jacksonville, Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church
Nathan John Gorzelanczyk, Volusia, The Journey Church
Robert “Bob” Gray, Jacksonville, Trinity Baptist Church
Thomas Warren Halsey, Leesburg, First Baptist Church
James Richard Harris, Belle Glade, Second Baptist Church
William Murray Hendricks, Jr., Jacksonville, Clay Hill Baptist Church
Lyndon Howell, Delray Beach, Community Missionary Baptist Church
Jerry Hutcheson, Baker, Red Oak Baptist Church
Fritzner Jean, Green Cove Springs, First Haitian Baptist Church of Jesus Christ
Robert Thomas Jenkins-Hayes, Niceville, Rocky Bayou Baptist Church
Kenneth Johnson, Ft. Pierce, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Dale Alan Julio, Niceville, Rocky Bayou Baptist Church
Alexie Kelley, Jacksonville, Little Rock Baptist Church
Russell Dion Lewis, Coral Springs, Church by the Glades: convicted of three counts of sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation of a child 12-15 years old. Sentenced to 28 years in 2011.
Randy Lee Morrow, Clearwater, Countryside Baptist Church
Douglas Myers, Tavares, Triangle Community Church
Brian Neiswender, Lakeland, Heritage Baptist Church
William Henry Randall, Orange Park, St. Simon Baptist Church
Leon Rankins, III, Pensacola, Restoration Full Gospel Baptist Church
David Joe Rich, Apopka, Springs Community Baptist Church
William Allen Richardson II, Seffner, First Baptist Church of Mango
Lloyd C. Schallenberger, Polk County, church unknown
Marshal A. Seymour, Lakeland, First Baptist Church at the Mall
Murrvin Sheppard, Micanopy, Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
Samuel A. Sutter, Odessa, Openwater Church
Richard Sweat, Jacksonville, Lake Shore Baptist Church
John Maxwell Ware, Orlando, First Baptist Church of Pine Castle
Aaron D. West, Lawtey, Faith Baptist Church
Scott Dwayne Wright, Tampa, Crossing Church
Stephen Lyle “Steve” Whittaker, Baker, Beaver Creek Baptist Church
See the full list from across the U.S. and more details at https://sbcec.s3.amazonaws.com/FINAL+-+List+of+Alleged+Abusers+-+SBC+REDACTED.pdf
This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 3:19 PM.
