Pastor Charged With Child Sex Crimes

Missouri: A mid-Missouri pastor is charged with sex crimes against children.

Prosecutors charged Travis Smith with 2nd degree child molestation and 2nd degree statutory rape. Both cases involve girls who attended his church in Stover, Missouri.

According to court documents, a girl, 14, told officials in July that Smith, 40, touched her inappropriately. The minor said the incident happened at the end of May, right after she turned 14.

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The detective said these allegations reminded him of previous accusations against Smith that were made in 2008. That prompted the detective to review the previous case.

He interviewed the woman who made those allegations. She’s now of legal age. She told him she had a sexual relationship with Smith, which started when she was 15 years old. Smith was 33 at the time.