© 2024 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577

A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Five Victory Employees Plead Not Guilty

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Five Tulsa church employees accused of waiting more than two weeks to report the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl make their plea in District Court.

Arraignment was held Wednesday morning for the Victory Christian Center employees who are charged with failure to report child abuse. Prosecutors filed the misdemeanor charges last week against John Daugherty, Charica Daugherty, Paul Willemstein, Anna George and Harold "Frank" Sullivan. All five entered a not guilty plea.

Prosecutors say the girl told church employees Aug. 15 that she was raped in a stairwell at the south Tulsa megachurch. Authorities say police weren't notified until Aug. 30.

The church says it's suspended the five employees while it decides disciplinary action.

Authorities say the 13-year-old is one of at least four victims of alleged sex crimes by two former employees who face criminal charges.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.