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Osage County preacher convicted of sexual abuse of teenage girl

The defendant said he was trying to teach the victim what to expect from her future husband.

BY SHEILA STOGSDILL | Published: April 10, 2012

PAWHUSKA — An Osage County preacher who confessed to police he sexually abused a teenage girl because he was trying to prepare her for her future husband was convicted of sexual abuse, court records show.

After deliberating more than four hours Thursday, the jury convicted Creth Dean Hopkins, 61, of Pawhuska, of lewd acts to a minor and three counts of child sexual abuse, according to court records. Hopkins was acquitted of seven counts of child sexual abuse.

The jury recommended Hopkins serve 20 years on each of the child sexual abuse counts and three years on the lewd acts conviction, records show.

Prosecutor Mike Fisher did not return telephone calls Friday or Monday.

The Barndall newspaper reported Hopkins, a pastor at Grace Community Church, admitted to some of the sexual acts the victim reported, but did so to teach her what she could expect from her future husband.

Formal sentencing is set for June 13.