Joe Campbell, a longtime Pentecostal preacher, was arrested on Wednesday (December 17) on charges of child sex abuse, NBC News reported. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office announced that Campbell faces one count of first-degree rape and one count of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16. U.S. Marshals apprehended him in Elkland, Missouri, and transported him to Greene County jail in Springfield, where he awaits transfer to Oklahoma. If convicted, Campbell could face a life sentence.

Campbell, 68, ministered to thousands of children across four states over five decades. His arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a 40-year quest for justice by some of his alleged victims. Five women accused Campbell of sexually abusing them as children in the 1970s and 1980s when he was an Assemblies of God minister. Nine others, including four men, reported that he showed them pornography, made lewd comments, or touched them inappropriately during the same period.

The rape charge against Campbell is linked to the alleged abuse of Kerri Jackson, who claims Campbell molested her for years starting when she was nine. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office used a legal theory that pauses the statute of limitations for suspects who move out of state to bring charges against Campbell. This approach was previously used to charge former megachurch pastor Robert Morris, who pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond described Campbell’s alleged crimes as "horrific" and emphasized the importance of seeking justice for the victims. The Assemblies of God expelled Campbell in 1989 after another victim, Phaedra Creed, reported abuse. Despite the allegations, Campbell continued to work with children, founding a nondenominational church and a youth camp in Missouri.

The arrest is a significant moment for the victims, who have long sought accountability. Jackson expressed relief, saying, "We just needed someone to believe us." The Assemblies of God expressed gratitude for those who shared their stories and hoped for justice to be served.

Simon Conway