The former pastor of a Four Oaks church was arrested on additional charges today.
Stephen Arthur Morris was originally charged on July 5, 2019 for allegedly sexually assaulting a juvenile female approximately 5 years earlier when she was 13. The victim said Morris was her pastor at Oliver’s Grove Baptist Church. Morris resigned from his position at the time of his first arrest.
On October 9, 2019, Morris was rearrested after two additional female victims came forward reporting he attempted to exploit them when they were juveniles.
At the time of his initial arrest last July, several computers and multiple electronic storage devices were seized. Search warrants were obtained on the electronics and they were sent to the NC SBI for forensic analysis. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office announced today the forensic search revealed six pornographic images of unidentified juveniles.
Morris was charged Friday morning with six felony counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. At the time of his arrest, Morris was being held in the Johnston County Jail on a $600,000 bond for the previous offenses. He received an additional $200,000 bond for the six warrants served on him today.
