Former Cowboy Way Church pastor arrested a third time

For the third time since July, the now former pastor of the Cowboy Way Church in Alvarado has been arrested in connection with allegations that he inappropriately touched a teenage boy years ago.

The latest arrest of Dan William Haby Jr., made Thursday morning by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, followed Haby’s Feb. 5 indictment by a Johnson County grand jury on a charge of indecency with a child by sexual contact.

The indictment stems from allegations by a man that Haby, whom he’d considered a friend and mentor, had inappropriately touched him when he was 16. The case was initially reported to the sheriff’s office in late August but was forwarded to Burleson police for investigation after it was revealed that two of the alleged incidents occurred there.

Johnson County sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Tim Jones said Haby surrendered on a warrant issued after the indictment and was booked into the county jail at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. Bond is set at $25,000 in the case.

Leigh Williams, children’s pastor at the Cowboy Way Church, confirmed Thursday that Haby resigned as pastor in November and is no longer affiliated with the church. His wife and co-pastor of the church, Melanie Haby, resigned in December, Williams said.

Williams said she could not comment further.

Mark Daniel, Haby’s defense attorney, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Haby, 52, on two charges of indecency with a child/fondling on Dec. 14, court records show.

One of those charges stems from accusations by a man who says Haby molested him, beginning at age 15, in 2000 and 2001 while Haby was pastor of the now-defunct Stockyards Community Church.

The man told police that Haby had told him his contact with the then teen was his way of relieving stress “which helped him be a stronger pastor thereby bringing God to more people,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

The second charge involves allegations made by Jacob Thibodeaux, who claims that Haby inappropriately touched him and kissed him on the mouth when Thibodeaux was 16.

Thibodeaux shared his story with the Star-Telegram in November, saying he wanted to come forward in hopes that other victims would feel safe in doing so.

In the Johnson County case, the two-count indictment accuses Haby of touching the genitals of the alleged victim on or about October 1, 2006, and trying unsuccessfully to put his hand down the teen’s pants on or about October 1, 2007.

Burleson police previously told the Star-Telegram that one of the alleged encounters occurred at a Burleson Pizza Hut.

This story was originally published February 19, 2015 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Former Cowboy Way Church pastor arrested a third time."