Youth minister pleads guilty to sexual assault
Date Shared: July 12th, 2023
Date Released: June 8th, 2011

Excerpt


"According to documents released by the Plano Police Department, the girl was 13 when she left the church. At that time, Overstreet began to make sexual remarks to her via Facebook and through text messages. Then in December 2009, Overstreet went to the girl's house and sexually assaulted her. At the time of the assault, he was 25 and the victim was 15."

"Even if the girl who came forward verbally consented to the act, the state of Texas protects any person under age 17 from sexual assault by someone who intentionally or knowingly commits the act with a minor, other than a spouse. Overstreet was not exempt from the statute, because he was more than three years older than the girl. If Overstreet would have pleaded not guilty and been convicted, he could have faced between two and 20 years in prison."
"At the time of his arrest in March 2010, The Dallas Morning News reported that Overstreet worked closely with teenage groups at two other Methodist churches. He served as youth director at Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Garland for two years after leaving St. Andrew, and he was fired from Spring Valley United Methodist Church in Richardson just days before a warrant was issued for his arrest."

"It was also reported that the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church would not allow Overstreet to continue his studies to become an ordained minister after the arrest, saying they "hold all who work with young people accountable to the highest standards of conduct."
starlocalmedia.com