The 52-year-old lead pastor still faces a charge of indecent assault and a lawsuit from his accuser.
The 52-year-old lead pastor still faces a charge of indecent assault and a lawsuit from his accuser.
The 52-year-old lead pastor still faces a charge of indecent assault and a lawsuit from his accuser.
ARLINGTON, Texas — A sexual assault charge against an Arlington pastor was dismissed by a grand jury, but the pastor still faces a charge of indecent assault, court records show.
In July, police arrested 52-year-old Ronald Goines after a female church member reported he had tried to kiss and touch her despite her objections during two encounters in March 2023. Goines is the founding and lead pastor of Arlington’s Koinonia Christian Church.
The Arlington Police Department said Goines turned himself in at the Tarrant County Jail after the department’s Sex Crimes Unit obtained two warrants for his arrest — one for indecent assault and another for sexual assault. He was released from jail on July 27, after posting $23,000 in bail for two charges.
A grand jury issued a “no bill” on the sexual assault charge, meaning they did not find sufficient evidence to formally try Goines. However, the charge of indecent assault remained in court records. Indecent assault is a lesser offense than sexual assault but is a more serious offense than offensive touching.
Goines’ accuser is suing the pastor over the alleged sexual assault. The woman is suing Goines for assault, and both Goines and the church for negligence, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy and sexual exploitation and is seeking more than $1 million in damages, court documents show.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the woman said the pastor asked her to drive back to his apartment because he told her he was having car trouble.
Once inside, she said he began kissing her on the neck, rubbing her legs and eventually pulling down her top to expose her. The woman, who was not named in the arrest affidavit, told police she left his apartment, but then met up with Goines again the following day, as they had planned.
She said they went to an event at a local theater and then went back to Goines’s apartment once more. Per the affidavit, the woman told police Goines again started kissing her neck, and tried to remove her clothing. The woman told police she repeatedly told Goines no, but he persisted, at one point putting his hands in her underwear, the affidavit stated.
Goines denied to police he had forced herself on the woman and said said they hugged, but didn’t kiss, the affidavit stated.
In October, three months after his arrest, Goines returned to the pulpit. An executive pastor filled in for Goines at Koinonia after his arrest but resigned shortly before Goines’ return.