Former Pastor of Northwest Minn. Churches Found Guilty of Sexual Contact with Kids

By Becky Jacobs
DL-Online
April 22, 2016

http://www.dl-online.com/news/crime/4015544-former-pastor-northwest-minn-churches-found-guilty-sexual-contact-kids

A Clearwater County District Court jury found a former pastor in northwestern Minnesota guilty Wednesday of having sexual contact with children.


The Rev. Scott Morey, Shevlin, Minn., was charged in 2014 with eight first-degree, three second-degree and three fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charges.

All of the convictions are related to incidents with two minor children, according to a news release from the Clearwater County Attorney’s Office. The 43-year-old was acquitted of one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

After receiving the verdict, Judge Eric Schieferdecker revoked Morey’s bail and remanded him into custody of the Clearwater County Sheriff.

Morey had been a pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Winger, Minn., Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bejou, Minn., and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in McIntosh, Minn. He resigned as pastor at the churches on Dec. 12, 2014, according to the Rev. Lawrence Wohlrabe, bishop with Northwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA in Moorhead.

Morey engaged in sexual contact with juvenile males while in a position of authority over his victims, according to a criminal complaint.

The abuse occurred at a Clearwater County residence, according to court documents, and investigators said Morey offered his victims money, an iPod and a phone if they engaged in sexual acts with him.

Morey is scheduled to be sentenced 1:30 p.m. May 25 in Clearwater District Court.

First-degree criminal sexual conduct carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $40,000 fine, second-degree is 25 years and a $35,000 fine and fourth-degree is 10 years and a $20,000 fine.