SEATTLE (WA)
Fox13 [Seattle, WA]
October 12, 2023
By Stephen Sorace
A pastor in Oregon was in custody on Wednesday after he was accused of inappropriately touching two girls in his congregation, authorities said.
Christopher Michael Pruitt, 39, of Beaverton, was indicted on six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse in Washington County, according to county jail records.
Pruitt allegedly touched two juvenile girls who were members of his small congregation at Our Father’s House Ministries Church.
Pruitt originally operated the church out of his home in north Beaverton before recently moving the church to north Portland, the Beaverton Police Department said.
Detectives believe Pruitt may have more victims and urged anyone with information to contact Det. Patrick McNair via email at pmcnair@beavertonoregon.gov or by phone at 503.526.2261.
Pruitt was apprehended on Oct. 5 and was being held at the Washington County Jail, where he remained in custody as of Wednesday.
Former pastor arrested in Pennsylvania 1975 cold case murder
A Georgia man and former Pennsylvania church pastor is facing charges in the 1975 murder of an 8-year-old girl who investigators say was abducted during bible camp. 83-year-old David Zandstra admitted to authorities that in August 1975 he saw 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington walking alone on Lawrence Road in Marple Township and offered her a ride. According to investigators, Zandstra drove Harrington – the daughter of the pastor of another nearby church – to a wooded area where he told her to disrobe and punched her in the head when she refused.
Court records show Pruitt pleaded guilty in 2017 to public indecency in Multnomah County, the Beaverton Valley Times reported. He was given one year of probation for the Class A misdemeanor.
A pre-trial release hearing is scheduled for Friday, the report said.