Robert David Fenton, 55, admitted to aggravated indecent assault and statutory sexual assault in connection with the abuse, which occurred while he was serving as a youth pastor at Abide in the Vine church between 1996 and 1998, starting when the victim was just 14 years old, according to the attorney general.
“This trusted mentor figure used religion to get close to, and exploit, this child for his own sexual gratification,” Attorney General Henry said. “Investigators went to great lengths — literally — to bring this defendant to justice for deviate crimes he committed decades ago.”
Authorities revealed that Fenton, then 26, convinced the victim’s parents that he had received a vision from God proclaiming that he and the child were to be married. Church officials, the victim’s parents, and Fenton agreed to a betrothal, during which Fenton began sexually assaulting the victim, investigators said. The victim alleged that Fenton convinced her parents to remove her from public school, enabling him to visit her at home. He allegedly touched her genitals and made her touch him. By 1998, Fenton escalated the abuse, forcing the victim to perform oral sex, according to the affidavit.
In July 2021, the Office of Attorney General, in partnership with Pennsylvania State Police, began investigating the case following a referral by the Bradford County District Attorney’s Office. Investigators interviewed multiple former church officials and associates of Fenton and the victim between July 2021 and February 2022. These interviews corroborated the victim’s allegations, revealing that the church community was aware of the "relationship" and approved the betrothal with an understanding that no sexual activity would occur. However, Fenton regularly abused the victim between 1996 and 1998. Church elders reportedly imposed a six-month "no contact" period during the relationship, but Fenton repeatedly violated these boundaries, investigators said.
The victim, now in her 40s, reported the abuse to law enforcement in 2019 after leaving the religious community and seeking counseling for the trauma inflicted by Fenton’s actions. Witnesses stated that Fenton’s relationship with the victim was likened to Mary and Joseph, with Mary being much younger, and that church leaders were pressured to approve the union. The pastor of the church initially opposed the relationship but was eventually overruled, investigators reported.
Fenton, who was believed to be associated with a church in Queensland, Australia, was notified of the charges via letter. He fled to Australia before being apprehended in the Philippines in April 2024.
Fenton was charged with the following offenses, according to court documents:
- Felony 2: Aggravated Indecent Assault/Person Less Than 16 Years of Age
- Felony 1: IDSI Person Less Than 16 Years of Age
- Felony 2: Statutory Sexual Assault
- Misdemeanor 1: Corruption of Minors
- Misdemeanor 2: Indecent Assault Person Less Than 16 Years of Age
As part of his guilty plea, Fenton will undergo an evaluation by the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board in Pennsylvania. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. before President Judge Maureen T. Beirne in Courtroom #1.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rachael Coleman and Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel J. Dye.
This is the second sexual assault case involving international extradition that Daily Voice has reported on in 24 hours. Click here to read about Ian Cleary's case and his casual digital confession.
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