Judge Issues Gag Order in Pastor's Sexual Assault Trial

By Lynn LaRowe
Texarkana Gazette
August 5, 2016

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texarkana/story/2016/aug/04/judge-issues-gag-order-youth-pastors-sexual-assault-trial/634540/

The lawyer representing a Texarkana pastor accused of sexual misconduct with a teen girl asked the court for a gag order Thursday at the accused's first court appearance.

David Farren, 41, pastor at Anchor Church in Texarkana, appeared before Circuit Judge Brent Haltom in a second-floor courtroom of Miller County Courthouse. Farren was arrested Wednesday afternoon and booked into the Miller County jail on three counts of first-degree sexual assault. The offenses allegedly occurred when the girl was 16 and 17 years old.

David Farren

Texarkana lawyer Jason Horton presented Haltom with a motion at Thursday's hearing asking that the case be sealed. Horton mentioned media coverage of Farren's arrest and public comments made to online write-ups. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell opposed the motion.

"Mr. Horton has not demonstrated to me why Mr. Farren is special and should be treated any differently than other defendants facing these types of charges," Mitchell said. "We've never put a gag order in place before except in a capital murder case, and that was after repeated (media coverage). I don't believe this case should be treated any differently."

Haltom agreed to instruct the prosecutor's office and law enforcement to acquire the court's permission before disemminating any details regarding the case. However, Haltom did say that if other warrants for Farren's arrest are issued and executed, that information would remain in the public domain.

"If they make another arrest, nobody is gagged on that," Haltom said.

Mitchell asked the court to order Farren to have no contact with any female under the age of 18 except immediate family members while the case is pending.

"An individual has come forward, and there is an ongoing investigation as to other claims," Mitchell said. "We do believe there are additional victims that will come forward. I'm not at liberty to name names at this time."

Mitchell reviewed Farren's history of working at area churches as a youth pastor when arguing for the no-contact order. In addition to his current role at Anchor Church, Farren has worked as a youth pastor at Heritage Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church and Faith Baptist Church, Mitchell said.

"The (alleged) victim was in his youth group," Mitchell said. "We are asking that he be ordered to have no contact with females under 18 out of an abundance of caution."

Horton suggested that the court grant a modified version of Mitchell's request, which Haltom did. Farren may have contact with girls younger than 18 who are not immediate family members if another adult is present.

Before crafting the order concerning contact, Haltom reviewed the probable-cause affidavit and noted that Farren's alleged misconduct occurred in a private residence in Miller County, not on church property.

"While he was her youth pastor," Mitchell argued.

On Mitchell's recommendation, Haltom set Farren's bail at $25,000. That means he will have to pay a commercial bondsman about $2,500 to be released. Haltom scheduled Farren to return to court Aug. 16 for a status hearing before Circuit Judge Carlton Jones.