Gary Don Welch was a Baptist youth pastor at Northside Baptist Church in Corsicana, Texas. In 2012, he was arrested when a sixteen-year-old girl reported that he sexually assaulted her. She had confided in her aunt that Welch had been assaulting her since she was thirteen. He stepfather said he had been suspicious three years earlier because Welch texted her all the time and even went to school to eat lunch with her. He told the pastor of his suspicions but was assured that it was only that Welch was kind and loving. He pulled the family out of the church/
Welch was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, one count of sexual assault of a child, one count of sexual assault, and one count of indecency with a child/sexual contact.
He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 55 years, eligible for parole after he serves half his sentence. The plea agreement means he won’t face charges for more assaults on the victim. It doesn’t protect him from others who may come forward.
The District Attorney said he groomed the child and abused his authority. Folks on the internet blamed the girl and he denounced them. “She was not at fault,” he said, adding that Welch had given a full confession to the charges in the four cases.
- Corsicana Daily Sun: Corsicana youth minister arrested for alleged sexual assault
- Corsicana Daily Sun: Welch pleas, gets 55 years
