Magnolia Pastor Indicted on 4 Counts of Sexual Assault Of A Child

MAGNOLIA, TX -- A former Magnolia pastor has been indicted by a Montgomery County Grand Jury on four counts of sexual assault of a child, and could spend the rest of his life behind bars if convicted.

Ronald Mitchell, 57, who was the pastor at Body of Christ Church, was arrested on Nov. 1 at his home after the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant and found evidence in the home of sexual assault, as well as a large cache of weapons.

Mitchell is accused of having sex multiple times with a 16-year girl who was a member of his congregation.

According to court documents, the sexual assaults happened over a four month period in 2015 and 2016, while the girl was staying at his home in the 40200 block of Garwood Court near Magnolia.

Mitchell allegedly persuaded the girls mother to allow the child to stay with him and his wife, because she “needed to be watched.”

According to court documents, Mitchell had his first sexual encounter with the child the weekend before Thanksgiving in 2015, followed by a second sexual encounter in December 2015.

The sexual encounters continued after that and included trips to Las Vegas, San Antonio and Galveston.

Mitchell allegedly forced the girl to comply by telling her that God would kill her if she told anyone.

According to court documents, Mitchell’s wife knew about these encounters and allegedly took the girl to the Lone Star Clinic in Conroe to receive birth control shots.

However, authorities have not said if she will face any changes.

Eventually, the girl was able to tell a church member, who contacted the Magnolia Police Department in September.

It was with that information that Montgomery County built a case and was able to raid Mitchell’s home.

Mitchell has been in the Montgomery County Jail since his November arrest in lieu of $400,000 worth of bonds, and is expected to make his next court appearance on Feb. 7 in 359th District Court.

Meanwhile, authorities fear there could be more victims and are asking for anyone with any information to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5876 or Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 800-392-STOP (7867).

Image: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office