Dallas-area minister fired after arrest on charge he sexually assaulted a child
A Baptist minister was fired by the church where he worked in Coppell after he was charged this week with aggravated sexual assault of a child.
He’s accused of having sexual contact with a girl under the age of 14 in Mesquite.
Jason Thomas, 40, who has been the associate minister of worship at Valley Ranch Baptist Church, was arrested at his residence Monday, Mesquite police said in a news release.
Church officials said in a statement that they became aware of the arrest Monday and terminated Thomas’ employment, effective immediately.
He began working with the church in September 2005, Pastor Larry Parsley and the church council said in the statement. Mesquite police told church officials the charge stems from events prior to Thomas’ employment with Valley Ranch Baptist Church, according to the statement.
His background checks didn’t show any previous arrests or convictions, according to the statement, and neither the church nor police know of any victims who are current or former members of the church.
“Our church is committed to the safety of our congregation and community — especially our children,” Parsley and the church council wrote in the statement. “Like you, our hearts are breaking for everyone involved in this situation.”
Mesquite police received a delayed report of a sexual assault of a child on Jan. 12, and an investigation revealed Thomas had sexual contact with a girl under the age of 14, the department said. Police didn’t say when the alleged incident occurred.
Officers obtained an arrest warrant for Thomas on the charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, which came with a $50,000 bond, police said.
Anyone with information on other offenses involving Thomas is encouraged to call police at 972-285-6336 or Investigator T. Rountree at 972-329-8303.
The Valley Ranch Baptist Church is cooperating with police in their ongoing investigation, according to the statement.
The church is located in the 1500 block of Belt Line Road in Coppell and has a mission of “inviting diverse and disconnected people to passionately follow Jesus together,” according to its website. The congregation began in 1986 in a Valley Ranch home.
This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 5:38 PM.
