An indicted North Texas pastor can now only lead his congregation remotely on video call after allegedly violating his bond conditions amid his ongoing sexual assault case.
According to KERA News, Alonzo Diego Fuller, lead pastor of Journey House Fort Worth, was arrested and charged with sexual assault last September. He was released from the Tarrant County jail the next day on a $40,000 surety bond.
Six months later, in March, Fuller was indicted with an additional charge of child grooming.
According to CBS Dallas, the first count alleged Fuller, 40, used his position of spiritual authority to exploit and sexually touch a female without her consent. The second count alleged that Fuller lured a person younger than 18 into a sexual act. He reportedly denied the charges against him during a church service, going as far as putting his mugshot up during the sermon.
Police arrested him again on May 5 after he reportedly had contact with a minor, which is a violation of his bond conditions.
A Haltom City police officer testified in court that he saw Fuller hug and hold two young children who appeared to be under the age of six back in April, KERA reported. The outlet reported that the off-duty officer had been working at the church to supervise the pastor, a condition of his bond.
Another Haltom City officer, also working off-duty at the church, told the judge that she never saw Fuller interact with children other than fist-bumping and greeting families together.
“(Fuller) was aware of (his bond conditions), and he continued to violate those rules,” said Darren De La Cruz, an attorney for the alleged victim, according to KERA. “Although he is greeting family members, fist-bumping them, interacting with them, that, simply put, is a violation of his conditions.”
Several people who testified at the hearing, including Fuller’s wife and another church employee, said they had not seen Fuller have contact with a minor since the restrictions were put in place.
District Court Judge Ryan Hill reinstated Fuller’s bond and set it at $75,000. Additionally, he is no longer permitted to lead worship services in person and is only allowed contact with his own children.