Wednesday, September 8th 2021, 5:24 pm
A minister is now behind bars after he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor.
Gary Dale Rogers was arrested on Monday. Newcastle Police Department detectives said this all started when they received sexual allegation reports more than a month ago.
"He was always just a father figure to the community," said Omar Alonso, a neighbor. "He was always caring, loving."
Neighbors of a southeast Oklahoma City church are in shock after recent allegations surfaced about Rogers. Newcastle police first received information on the case in late July and detectives began interviewing him.
"Any kind of case like this, we want to investigate fully and completely," said Kevin Morrissey with the Newcastle Police Department.
Rogers was later arrested and booked into the McClain County jail on complaints of first-degree rape and sodomy with a victim under 16 years old.
According to detectives, Rogers was a minister for the First Assembly of God Church in Tuttle for a number of years and was most recently at Southside Assembly of God in Oklahoma City.
"Just because somebody has a specific title or position of authority or trust in the community, doesn't meant that they may not also be doing something that they shouldn't," said Morrissey.
However, one family who lives just across the street from the church said Rogers always seemed welcoming and kind.
"Always working, always saying hi to us," Alonso said. "He's known us maybe two or three years. He's just so friendly as if he's known us all his life."
It's uncertain when exactly these allegations took place. News 9 reached out to Rogers' church but have not heard back.
Rogers currently sits in jail with a $200,000 bond. Police said if there are any other victims in this case, to call police.
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