PEARLAND, Texas – A man who volunteers at Sunday school at Sagemont Church has been arrested, accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl who is also a member of the church.
John Dixon Meharg, 43, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child.
KPRC 2 spoke with Dr. John Morgan, the senior pastor at Sagemont Church. He said each volunteer at the church is given an extensive background check and he said Meharg's came back clean.
Morgan said during a Sunday school lesson about how "bad things can happen to good people," the 13-year-old girl started crying and told an administrator about the alleged sexual assault.
Morgan said Meharg was immediately escorted off the property and the girl's parents were notified, as well as the Pearland Police Department.
Officers said the alleged sexual assault happened in January at Meharg's apartment on Barry Rose Road. The case was forwarded to the grand jury and Meharg was indicted at the beginning of June. Meharg turned himself in a few days later to the Brazoria County Jail. He was booked and released after posting a $50,000 bond.
Pastor Morgan said he wants the community to know that Sagemont Church has a zero tolerance for these types of allegations and their main concern is the safety of the children in their congregation.
We reached out to Meharg's attorney but we have not heard back.