A judge has sentenced a former Ellis County, Texas, youth pastor to 50 years in prison for sexually assaulting multiple minors, according to media reports Thursday.
Ellis County District Attorney Ann Montgomery announced that 53-year-old Marvin Scales has pleaded guilty to two counts of child sexual abuse, one count of aggravated sexual assault and one count of child sexual assault. did. WFAA.
The ruling came after an investigation began when a 14-year-old girl gave birth in August 2023, and DNA testing confirmed that Scales was the father.
Montgomery said Scales, who was a youth pastor at a local church, used his position to prey on children in the congregation. After word of the first victim reached church leadership, other victims came forward, according to the prosecutor's office. (Related: Report: Texas megachurch sued after woman claims church encourages sexual abuse by pastor)
“This is an extraordinarily heinous case of child sexual abuse,” Montgomery said after the verdict, according to the newspaper. “It is very difficult for victims and their families to speak out, especially when the abuser is a person in authority at a religious institution. We commend the courage of the children who came forward.”
Youth pastor impregnates 14-year-old and records sexual abuse of other children, Texas state police say
A former youth pastor accused of “regularly” sexually assaulting children in his home will spend the next decades in prison, authorities in Texas announced.
Marvin Scales, 53, was sentenced to 50 years in prison…
— Religion News (@religionnews) September 27, 2024
Montgomery said Scales, who was convicted in 1998 and was already a registered sex offender, frequently took the children on overnight trips, according to WFAA. The victims told authorities the assaults occurred during their trip. Montgomery's office said Scales installed a security system in his home, took video footage of multiple assaults, and intentionally recorded and archived some incidents. These recordings helped uncover additional victims.
According to Ellis County District Clerk's criminal records, Scales has a history of sexual crimes, including possession of child pornography and aggravated sexual assault of a child. Scales are not eligible for parole. Montgomery noted that the background check may have alerted the church to Scales' past criminal activity.
