A former youth minister in North Carolina has been charged with 30 counts of misdemeanor sexual battery, the High Point Police Department announced in a recent press release.

James Robert Murphey was arrested at his home after a months-long investigation involving “numerous” teenage victims, police said.

Murphey previously served as the youth minister at Oak View Baptist Church in High Point, North Carolina, Chris Martin, the church’s safety director told WGHP News. High Point is located roughly 80 miles northeast of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Martin said that allegations against Murphey were brought to the attention of church leadership in January. Martin did not specify who brought the allegations forward.  

Church leadership immediately suspended Murphey and then contacted the police, Martin said. “We were absolutely surprised,” he noted.

Murphey later resigned as youth pastor, Martin said. Murphey had worked at the church for nearly 24 years.

High Point police began investigating reported sexual assaults involving Murphey in January, the press release added.

Throughout the investigation, police identified numerous victims between the ages of 16 and 19 years old, who were allegedly assaulted by Murphey, according to the press release. Murphey’s 30 charges stem from events that occurred in 2023.

According to multiple arrest warrants, Murphey had repeated counts of telling multiple victims to remove their pants and expose themselves in the presence of another minor. An additional series of charges allege that Murphey and another minor pulled down another victim’s underwear. Murphey forced all assaults, the warrants report. 

Police and Martin have not commented on where the alleged assaults may have occurred.

In his role as a youth pastor, Murphey interacted with nearly 100 youth who came to the church each Wednesday and Sunday, according to WGHP.

“It’s very disheartening to us. We do have a large youth ministry here,” Martin said. “We’re trying to build it back and to put it back together and keep it repaired the best we can.”

Murphey, who was known to church members as Robert, oversaw all youth activities, including Bible studies, and youth events on and off campus, Martin noted.

“We’re praying for Robert. We’re praying for the families, and we’re praying for our church,” Martin said. “We’re here to support the families of the people that have been involved in this, as well as Robert.”

Martin told WXII 12 News that a new youth minister has started at Oak View to support teens and the victims. “We’ve regained the trust of our youth parents, as well as the youth and we are continuing to build that trust,” Martin added.

Murphey also volunteered at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point as a public announcer for basketball games, the school announced in a statement.

The school clarified that Murphey’s role had no interaction with students and that he has not been affiliated with the school since February 2024. 

“The safety of our students is paramount, and we strive to take every precaution necessary to ensure that we provide a safe environment at all times,” the statement said. “Wesleyan Christian Academy community is praying for those affected.”

Additionally, Murphey worked in Guilford County Schools as a vendor but not as an employee, school officials told WGHP. Murphey will no longer be providing any services for the schools.

Murphey posted a $100,000 bond and was released from jail today, according to court records. He has been prohibited from having contact with the victims and from stepping foot on the premises of Guilford County Schools.

Murphey’s next hearing will occur on September 23.

The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to Wesleyan Christian Academy and Oak View Baptist Church for further comment but did not hear back prior to publication.

Oak View has been serving to the community as a gathering place for Christians for more than 50 years, according to its Facebook page. It is an “evangelical biblically based, Christ-centered church.”

Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.