Indianapolis Youth Pastor Sexually Abused Girl in Church Office, Authorities Say
By Ryan Martin
A former youth pastor used an Indianapolis church office to secretly meet and sexually abuse a 14-year-old girl, according to a federal indictment announced Thursday. Federal authorities say the minister, 51-year-old Maurice Frazier, also threatened to retaliate against the girl if she reported him to police, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler's office. Now he is facing federal charges of coercion and enticement, sexual exploitation of a child, six counts of receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography and an offense by a registered sex offender, according to the release. “When individuals abuse their position of trust to prey on children, they will feel the full force of the federal hammer,” Minkler said in a written statement. The case isn't Frazier's first contact with the criminal justice system over alleged sexual abuse. In 2012 Frazier was registered as a sex offender after being convicted on sexual battery charges in Marion Superior Court. He worked as a lieutenant for the Marion County Sheriff's Office at the time, court records show, overseeing 29 employees as a shift supervisor at jail intake. Two of his subordinates said Frazier assaulted them while in uniform and on duty. One victim said Frazier groped her and forced her hand onto his crotch. The other victim said Frazier groped her on two separate occasions. Both told investigators they were afraid of Frazier and scared they would be retaliated against for reporting the assaults. Court documents show Frazier called himself a sex addict who couldn't help but touch the employees. He was sentenced to three months of home detention and probation, according to the state's online sex offender registry. In the federal case, the news release says Frazier met the teenage girl through an east-side church. He used social media to communicate with her. The abuse occurred at least 15 times in locations around Indianapolis, including his home, his vehicle and the church, the news release says. Frazier also is accused of enticing the victim to send pornographic photos of herself. He also is accused of sending similar images of himself back. The church is unidentified in the news release. IndyStar has learned that Frazier worked as an associate minister for Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church, 3505 E. 38th St., but whether that church is the one noted in the federal case is unclear. An archived version of the Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church’s website notes that Frazier joined the church in 2007. In his time there, he also served as Sunday school superintendent and choir director. Frazier is married with four children, according to the website. IndyStar was unable to immediately reach someone at the Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church willing to speak for an interview on Thursday afternoon. The federal case, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, remained sealed on Thursday afternoon. The case was investigated by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. “The solicitation, exploitation and preying of our society's most vulnerable is both vile and sickening," IMPD Chief Bryan Roach said in a written statement. “I commend the work of our detectives in investigating such difficult and horrific cases." If convicted, Frazier could face decades of time in prison, the news release said.
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