An Oklahoma man, Charles Sulivant, 91, has been arrested on charges of lewd or indecent acts with a child under 16, involving incidents at Shawnee’s First Church of the Nazarene between 2008 and 2013. Court documents reveal that Sulivant targeted underage girls in the church, with one victim being a 9-year-old girl who reported being lured to his truck. Shockingly, allegations of a cover-up by church leaders have also emerged, with claims that a church leader knew of the incidents but kept silent to protect their reputation.
One victim reported the abuse to her mother and youth pastor, only to be met with threats against their jobs if they pursued the matter further. Another victim, a member of the church’s worship band, described being groped by Sulivant, but was dismissed by the church pastor, who claimed she had a bad reputation and no one would believe her. The pastor even suggested that if Sulivant were to leave the church and stop tithing, the church would not be able to pay her mother’s salary.
Sulivant himself admitted to being warned by the pastor to stop interacting with the girls, acknowledging that it was time to “pay up” for his actions. This disturbing case highlights the importance of safeguarding vulnerable members of the community and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes, regardless of their position within a religious institution. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward and seek justice for the victims.
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