FOUR OAKS – Less than two years after being sentenced to prison for sex crimes involving three juvenile victims, Stephen Arthur Morris of Four Oaks was returned to Johnston County today (Thursday) to be formally charged with more crimes.
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said a family member of the former pastor recently came forward and reported she had been sexually assaulted years earlier. The specific date or dates was not disclosed. Following an investigation, Morris, age 65, was charged today with four counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and one count of first-degree sex offense with a minor.
Stephen Morris was originally arrested July 5, 2019 and charged with sexually assaulting a juvenile female approximately five years earlier when she was 13. The victim said Morris was her pastor at Oliver’s Grove Baptist Church when the assault occurred. Morris resigned from his pastoral position at the time of his arrest. On October 9, 2019, Morris was re-arrested after two additional female victims came forward reporting Morris attempted to exploit them.
In May 2020, more charges were added after the NC SBI completed a forensic examination of several computers and electronic storage devices previously seized from Morris.
In April 2021, Stephen Morris plead guilty in Johnston County Superior Court to 32 criminal charges and was sentenced to serve a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of 17 years in state prison. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender upon his release.
Morris was being held at the Columbus Correctional Institution in Whiteville, NC, a medium security prison, before he was returned to Johnston County today to be served with the new warrants. Thursday’s charges reportedly represent a fourth female juvenile victim.
It is unclear how long Morris will remain in the Johnston County Jail before he is returned to Columbus Correctional Institution.
I look forward to the day we hear about our disgraced county commissioner being sentenced too!
Money talks
Jen- what has been going on with that case? It’s like no one is talking about it anymore. I haven’t been on here as much lately, dealing with health issues, so way behind on so many things. Are charges still pending? If guilty he needs to be held accountable just like anyone else.
He plead guilty to 32 charges involving juveniles!!! Why was each charge not a minimum of 10 years? He should have been sentenced to a minimum of 320 years before even being considered being let out among society again. Drastic, I know, but only 10 to 17 years is a slap on the wrist for the damage this “pastor” did to those young girls. He should never see the light of day again.
Sad truth is he will be eligible for time off for good behavior and for in prison accolades.
Bet y’all wish you hadn’t stood up behind him that first day in court, huh? Told you…Price is Right.
Here’s an actual groomer. Sure doesn’t look like a drag queen to me.