James Daniel Worley, a senior pastor of Powell Valley Church in Gresham, Oregon is charged with 37 sex crimes with two minor children. The Deschutes County indictment was handed down December 16, 2014 and includes two counts of rape, 20 counts of sexual abuse, 11 counts of sodomy, one count of attempted sodomy, and three counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct. The indictment alleges that the crimes occurred between September 2002 and June 2004. One child was under 12; the other was under 14.
According to news reports, Worley was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on Dec. 30, and on that day he posted a tweet saying, “Stormy weather has arrived. About to find out two-things: who our real friends are and how our God glorifies himself. #Psalm35 #GlorytoGod.”
KATU TV reported that this is not Worley’s first brush with the law. He used to be a police officer with the Tillamook Police Department in 2005 to 2006, but his badge was revoked in 2007 for ongoing misconduct, according to City of Tillamook records, according to KATU reports.
Prosecutors in Bend did not reveal how Worley knew the victims, although they did not believe Worley was a pastor in Bend at the time of the alleged incidents. However, prosecutors told KATU they are concerned there are more victims.
Law enforcement authorities urge residents in Bend, Tillamook, and Gresham to contact police if they have more information regarding Pastor Worley.