Klamath Falls minister pleads guilty to sex charges

By Lyle Ahrens
KOBI
October 10, 2016

https://kobi5.com/news/regional-news/klamath-falls-minister-pleads-guilty-to-sex-charges-37758/

Klamath Falls, Ore. – A former pastor of a Klamath Falls church pleads ‘guilty’ to sex charges involving a member of his congregation.

Larry Murrell entered a change of plea Monday morning to two misdemeanor counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

Klamath County District Attorney Rob Patridge says Murrell was arrested in October of 2015 after a woman told police she had been molested at Murrell’s home.

“There was some kind of massage technique that the pastor was using,” said Patridge. “But it was very sexual, and got way out of hand.”

Prior to his arrest, Murrell served as a minster at the House Of Prayer For All Nations.

Patridge points out the state dropped felony charges of second-degree sex abuse as part of a negotiated plea. He said, “The issues related to this case were some specific facts to prove measure 11 cases related to resistance and forcibility.”

Murrell was sentenced to 60 days in jail, and placed on 3 years probation.

“He’s got credit for the time served, and now he’s a registered sex offender,” added D.A. Patridge.

At Monday’s court hearing, Murrell admitted to touching the adult female victim without her consent.

The woman was not in court for the change of plea.