Columbia church youth pastor charged with statutory sodomy, child porn out on bond

A Boone County man who was charged on March 6 for sexually assaulting a girl multiple times, and having child pornography has bonded out of jail.

The assaults allegedly happened several times dating back to 2013. The victim was under 14 years old at the time.

42-year-old Dale Johnson turned himself in to the Boone Co. Sheriff’s Department late Friday afternoon.

Johnson is a youth pastor at Parkade Baptist Church in Columbia.

Johnson is charged with two counts of first degree statutory sodomy and one count of possession of child pornography.

Detectives began investigating Johnson on February 10 after the Missouri Division of Children’s Services received a hotline call.

According to a probable cause statement, the assaults happened at Johnson’s home and at the church.

The victim told investigators Johnson digitally penetrated her and forced her to engage in oral sex.

In those documents, the victim said some of the incidents happened at Johnson’s home after his children went to bed. She said Johnson told her not to tell anyone about what happened because he would get in trouble.

The victim and Johnson are said to know each other.

When authorities searched Johnson’s office, deputies found photos of a naked girl in a sexually explicit position.

Johnson cannot have any contact with anyone under 18, or operate any computer.

Johnson’s bond was set at $100,000 cash only. He posted that bond on March 11.

He is due back in court April 14 for a preliminary hearing.