TOWANDA (PA)
The Daily Review [Bradford County, PA]
May 2, 2025
By Philip O’Dell, Senior Staff Writer
Exactly one year after his apprehension overseas, a former Bradford County youth pastor was recently sentenced on sexual assault charges committed decades ago.
Robert David Fenton, 55, received a sentence of three to six years incarceration on charges related to sexual assault, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Upon his release, Fenton will serve eight years probation and have to register as a sex offender for life.
The sentencing was held on April 24 inside the Bradford County Courthouse with President Judge Maureen Beirne imposing the penalty.
Fenton pleaded guilty on Jan. 14 to aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old and statutory sexual assault, both second-degree felonies.
His sentence is part of a plea agreement reached by his defense and prosecutors from the attorney general’s office.
The dismissed charges included involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors, and indecent assault. According to Beirne, the two charges he pleaded guilty to typically carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine for each offense.
Fenton was a youth pastor at Abide in the Vine church from 1996 to 1998 when he sexually abused the victim when she was 14 to 15 years old, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Fenton was 26 to 27 years old at the time.
The abuse started when Fenton informed the victim’s parents of a claimed vision from God that he and the child should marry, according to the investigation. A betrothal was then agreed to by Fenton, the victim’s parents, and church officials. Fenton proceeded to sexually assault the victim.
After leaving the religious community, the victim came forward and sought support to heal from the abuse, investigators said. Her account was confirmed by former church officials and individuals associated with Fenton and the victim.
The Attorney General’s Office started its investigation in July 2021 after the Bradford County District Attorney’s Office made a referral. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania filed charges against Fenton in April 2022 and called for his extradition since he was overseas at the time. Fenton fled to Australia before charges were filed.
Coincidentally, Fenton was sentenced exactly one year after authorities apprehended and detained him as he tried entering another country.
Fenton tried entering the Philippines from Brisbane, Australia, on April 24, 2024. He was believed to be working in a church in Queensland, Australia at the time. The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration received a positive hit in the International Criminal Police Organization’s derogatory system and stopped him from entering the country. Fenton was placed on a flight from the Philippines to Los Angeles the next day to eventually stand trial for the sexual assault charges.
No bail was set when charges were filed on May 18, 2024. Later, on August 13 of that year, Beirne denied Fenton supervised bail during his modification hearing, explaining that law enforcement entities had gone to significant lengths to extradite him. She added that his release on any bail would not be in the public’s best interest.