MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Oklahoma News

October 29, 2012

Former Tulsa church worker pleads guilty to rape

— TULSA — A former employee of a Tulsa megachurch accused of raping a 13-year-old girl pleaded guilty Monday to six sex-crime charges.

Chris Denman, 20, faces up to life in prison after entering the pleas. He is due in court Dec. 12 for sentencing.

Denman was accused in the August rape of a girl on the campus of Victory Christian Center, a worldwide ministry located in south Tulsa that has 17,000 members. Denman was also charged with molesting a 15-year-old girl and making a lewd proposal to a 12-year-old girl.

He pleaded guilty Monday to all charges filed against him: first-degree rape, forcible oral sodomy of a child, lewd molestation, making a lewd proposal to a child and two counts of using a computer to facilitate a sex crime.

Dressed in a gray and black-striped jail uniform, he said only, "yes, sir," or "guilty" to Judge Bill Musseman. Even though Denman decided to plead guilty, Musseman told the 20-year-old that his sentence would not be a short one.

Attorneys said Denman's plea was not a result of an agreement with prosecutors, who plan to hold an "aggravation hearing" at his sentencing to demonstrate the need for a tough sentence.

"We're glad he will not be subjecting the victims to a lengthy court process," said Sarah McAmis, director of the Crimes Against Children Division at the district attorney's office.

Denman told a judge at Monday's hearing that he made the decision on his own to accept the plea deal.

Denman's attorney did not return a phone call seeking comment Monday afternoon.

Five employees of the church, including the son and daughter-in-law of head pastor Sharon Daughtery, also face misdemeanor charges for allegedly waiting two weeks to report the alleged rape. They have pleaded not guilty and are due in court Wednesday.

The 13-year-old's mother has sued the church seeking more than $75,000. She claims the church sought "damage control" rather than pursuing the case properly.

After the hearing Monday, the church issued a statement, stating that the ministry was "glad to see a quick resolution to this trial for the sake of the victims and their families."

Text Only
Oklahoma News
AP Video
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Poll

Are the IRS, Benghazi and AP phone warrant scandals vital issues, or a distraction from more important business the nation should deal with?

Vital
Distraction
     View Results
Featured Ads
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Stocks