A youth leader at the High Rock Community Church is facing two felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and felony second degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a news release sent out late Friday night from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
Earlier this month, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division was alerted to possible inappropriate behavior by a youth leader at the High Rock Community Church on Bringle Ferry Road.
The complaints were from female teenage members of the church, and involved allegations of sexual activity and advances, made by Torrey Morgan, 36, of Crawford Road, Salisbury.
Detectives investigated the complaints that involved several underage victims and obtained warrants on Morgan.
He also faces misdemeanor charges of disseminating harmful material to a minor under 18 and felony disseminating harmful material to a minor under 16.
High Rock Church officials had released a statement before Morgan was charged saying they investigated the claims and found them to be true. The statement said Morgan also admitted additional incidences. The statement said when church officials discovered high school girls were involved in inappropriate sexual contact, Morgan’s employment was terminated and law enforcement officials were notified.
Morgan’s bond was set at $50,000 and he was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Anyone with information concerning this case is asked to contact 1st Lt. Chad Moose, of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, at 704-216-8687.