Dallas, Texas - Pastor Darrell Maurice Yancey Charged with 7 Counts of Child Sexual Assault

Prominent Dallas Pastor, Gospel Singer Accused of Child Molestation

A well-known Dallas-area pastor and gospel singer was arrested in December for allegedly sexually abusing several children, including his own daughter. 59-year-old Darrell Maurice Yancey has been charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and four counts of sexual assault of a child.

Yancey was a pastor who preached and sang in churches throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He was the owner of the Church of Turning Point in Terrell and also preached at Kingdom Covenant Tabernacle and several other area churches.

According to an affidavit, the sex crimes occurred in the 1990s and 2000s. One of the victims was 13 years old when the abuse began and conceived three children with Yancey, who was her pastor. She was also living with him at the time because of her family's financial troubles.

This victim made a recorded call to Yancey in early 2018 and confronted him about the abuse. According to the affidavit, "the suspect stated that he did not enjoy it and gave an example stating 'a man does not enjoy it because you don't have a willing participant.'"

The police say that Yancey was most recently a pastor in Terrell.

Justice for Victims of Sexual Abuse by Church Leaders

Attorney contributor Marc Lenahan represents survivors of sexual abuse in civil lawsuits, helping them find the justice and support they deserve. We've asked him to add some thoughts on the legal options available to those who have been sexually abused by church leaders:

Sexual predators often hide in plain sight, placing themselves in positions of trust in our churches, schools, volunteer organizations, and other areas which involve working with children. These sick individuals use their trust and authority as a means to commit heinous crimes, which traumatize the victims, their families, and the community as a whole.

When a church leader commits these crimes, there are many concerns to address. First and foremost, the victims must get the support they deserve and the perpetrator must be arrested and prosecuted. Additionally, the church should also be held accountable if their negligence played a role in enabling the abuse to occur - such as failing to report complaints of sexual misconduct or attempting to cover up allegations. In cases which involve negligence, the victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit.

If you or a loved one is a survivor of church sexual abuse, you can find justice for the trauma your family has suffered. Consider speaking to one of our experienced sex abuse victims attorneys to find out more about your family's legal options.