A pastor in Liberty County, Texas, has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing a child, accusations that have shaken the congregation he led for years. He faces several felony charges and is being held in jail, and under the law he is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted.
Authorities identified the man as George Finney, 52, the senior pastor of New Life Church in Kenefick. He had led the congregation for roughly a decade before his arrest, according to the church, which said it has since relieved him of his duties.
The arrest was made by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office. Deputies took Finney into custody at his home in Dayton, and he was booked into jail after the charges were filed against him.
Prosecutors have filed multiple serious charges. According to authorities, Finney is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, indecency with a child and assault on a family member by impeding breath, and his bond was set at 50,000 dollars on each count, for a total of 150,000 dollars.
Investigators have said the alleged abuse was not recent in its origins. They said the conduct described in the case began in 2024, and the allegations were laid out in court documents supporting the charges against him.
The case came to light through a report earlier this summer. Officials said a complaint was made on June 19 after a juvenile made an outcry to an adult, who then went to authorities, prompting the investigation that led to the arrest.
The church moved to address the situation as the news spread. Its leadership issued a statement acknowledging the arrest, and it confirmed that Finney, who had served as its senior pastor, was no longer in that role while the legal process plays out.
The investigation is continuing. The sheriff's office said it was not aware of any additional victims but did not rule out the possibility that there could be others, and it urged anyone with information to come forward as the case moves through the courts.