Texas Pastor Faces Felony Child Sex Abuse Charges After Juvenile Victim Speaks Out

A Community Shaken by Accusations Against Its Pastor

A small Texas community is reeling after the arrest of a local church leader on serious child sex crime charges. George Finney, 52, pastor of New Life Church in Kenefick, was arrested at his home in Dayton by deputies with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office on June 29. The case has sent shockwaves through a congregation that had trusted him for years — and raises troubling questions about how abuse can hide behind a position of spiritual authority.

In May 2016, George Finney was set in as Senior Pastor of the church, and in January of 2023, New Life Church officially changed their name to New Life Kenefick. His decade-long tenure made him a familiar and trusted face in the tight-knit Kenefick community — which makes the allegations against him all the more disturbing.

The Charges and How the Investigation Began

Finney, 52, was arrested on Monday, June 29, for charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old, a first-degree felony; indecent exposure to a child, a third-degree felony; and assault of a family/household member impeding breath, also a third-degree felony. These are among the most serious criminal offenses under Texas law, with the first-degree felony charge alone carrying the potential for a lengthy prison sentence.

The sheriff's office reported that a complaint against Finney was made on June 19, after a juvenile victim made an outcry to an adult, who then went straight to authorities. According to Liberty County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Billy Knox, Finney was taken into custody without incident following an investigation that began after what Knox described as a public outcry. Investigators say the crimes started in 2024. The speed from report to arrest — just ten days — suggests investigators moved quickly once the allegations came to light.

Bonds Set, Church Silent, Family Stunned

Finney has been charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14 Years of Age, Indecency With a Child by Exposure, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury/Family Violence, with bond set at $50,000 on each charge, for a total of $150,000. As of this reporting, the accused remains in the Liberty County Jail.

Finney's wife answered the door at their home while holding their newborn child, telling reporters she is shocked and does not believe he would do something like this. No one at the church has returned calls or responded to requests for comment. The sheriff's office says it is unaware of any additional victims, but acknowledges there may be more.

What Comes Next

As of publication, details surrounding the allegations, including the circumstances of the investigation and the ages of the alleged victim or victims, had not been released by investigators. The district clerk has yet to release the court documents for this case, leaving key questions unanswered. As the legal process unfolds, the community will be watching closely — and authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.

Cases like this one serve as a sobering reminder that positions of trust — whether in a church, a school, or any community institution — can be exploited. The courage of a juvenile victim speaking up, and an adult taking that report directly to law enforcement, set the entire process in motion. That chain of action is exactly what child safety advocates say must happen. How the congregation, the courts, and the broader Liberty County community respond in the weeks ahead will define what accountability looks like when faith and alleged criminality collide.