Testimony Continues in Former Tulsa Youth Mentor's Child Molestation Case

By Hector Mejia
Fox 23
November 2, 2016

http://www.fox23.com/news/senior-pastor-testifies-in-former-tulsa-pastors-child-molestation-case/463355427

Witnesses took the stand on the final day of jury selection in the case against an accused child molester.

During opening arguments, prosecutors claimed that Timothy Cato, a Tulsa youth mentor with a local church, molested five children over the course of several years.

However, Cato’s defense claimed the state jumped to conclusions, arguing Cato’s innocence.

The first witness, the senior pastor at Liberty Church, testified Cato admitted to him he had molested at least one child after Tulsa police opened an investigation back in 2014.

He said Cato lived with boys during a Falls Creek church camp and confessed to molesting a child who had nothing to do with the church. Prosecutors also said Cato told police he'd molested one child

Terry Featherston, a Liberty Church member and Falls Creek cook, said he thought a child's affection toward Cato, including hugs, kisses and face rubbing, was odd. He said Cato once disappeared with the child and never returned after 10 minutes of a tabernacle service.

Since then, Timothy Cato has been charged with 13 counts of child sexual abuse and one count of possession of child pornography.

Prosecutors believe there could be more victims, saying they have evidence to believe Cato had been victimizing children for decades.

They claim he used his position as a church and DHS volunteer to invite children over his house to molest them.

Susan Howard, the executive director of an agency for those with intellectual and physical disabilities, said Cato was employed twice over 10 years, and families would request him. she said he would also help children with personal care.

Some children had special needs.

A volunteer coordinator with the Department of Human Services said only one of three people from whom they requested references actually sent back a reference for Cato. He said the department had concerns after Cato would reportedly bring children back late, bathed and in pajamas after taking them out on day passes.

He said they filed an incident report saying he was not allowed to do that, but Cato allegedly complied for the most part.

On Thursday, a nine-year-old boy, who was seven when the crimes allegedly occurred, spent close to 40 minutes on the witness stand.

A child specialist formerly with the Justice Center also took the stand and talked about a 35-minute interview she'd had with the child.