Key Takeaways
- Texarkana police arrested 87-year-old Louie B. George II, longtime pastor of Oak Street Baptist Church, on a charge of sexual assault of a child, on September 9, 2026.
- George is a pastor at a local church, and, according to authorities, was a pastor in the 1990s when the alleged victim attended the church as a child.
- Investigators say they have since identified at least two additional alleged victims and are concerned there may be others who have not yet come forward.
- Civil lawsuits can help survivors to seek accountability from churches or other institutions that failed to take reasonable steps to protect them from sexual abuse.
Authorities Arrest Louie B. George II
An 87-year-old pastor in Texarkana was arrested on a charge of sexual assault of a child on Wednesday, September, 9, 2026.
The Texarkana Texas Police Department announced on Thursday, September 10, 2026, that officers had arrested Louie George. Police have released limited details because of the sensitive nature of the allegations and the ongoing investigation.
According to police, “George is a pastor at a local church and was also the pastor there in the 1990s when the victim was a young child attending the church.”
George is the longtime pastor of Oak Street Baptist Church, located at 401 Waterall Street in Texarkana, Texas. According to his Facebook profile, he has been a pastor there since 1971.
His bond has been set at $500,000.
Police Identify At Least Two Additional Alleged Victims
The investigation has already expanded beyond the allegations involving one individual.
The Texarkana Texas Police Department released this statement:
“Since we opened this investigation, we’ve identified at least two more victims. Because George has been a pastor at this church for so many years, we’re concerned there could be other victims out there who haven’t come forward yet. We want to hear from you if you have information that could be relevant to this investigation.
If you have information about George or believe you may have been a victim, please contact Detective Tabitha Smith at 903-798-3116.”
Louie B. George’s Longtime Roles in the Texarkana Community
Over several decades, George has held multiple leadership positions in the Texarkana community.
According to the Texarkana Gazette, along with his role as a pastor, “George was also a principal at a Texarkana Texas Independent School District elementary school for 23 years, according to a previous Gazette article. In 2019, George was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP.”
George has remained involved in the school community through the Texarkana ISD Education Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board and dedicated to supporting the Texarkana Independent School District.
As of the time of this writing, George serves as a commissioner for Village Communities of Texarkana, a public housing agency, a position he has held since May 2015. The organization describes his background as “Pastor, Retired Educator.”
Together, these records show that Pastor Louie B. George has been a longstanding figure across religious, educational, and community organizations in Texarkana. Given the allegations in this case and investigators’ concern that there may be additional victims, George’s decades of involvement in positions that provided him access to children and families are particularly concerning.
About Oak Street Baptist Church
As of the time of this writing, Oak Street Baptist Church does not appear to have issued a public statement addressing George’s arrest.
It remains unclear whether the church has taken any action in response to the allegations.
Oak Street Baptist Church is affiliated with the Bowie Baptist Association. The Bowie Baptist Association (BBA), a local association of Southern Baptist churches in Bowie County, Texas, does not appear to have issued a public statement about the case either.
BBA continues to identify Louie B. George as Oak Street’s pastor.
The lack of a publicly available response is particularly notable given the broader scrutiny Southern Baptist churches and organizations have faced over their handling of sexual abuse allegations.
Protestant Accountability, a database which documents allegations of misconduct and the alleged mishandling of misconduct allegations within Protestant institutions, has listed more than 700 publicly accused individuals associated with the Southern Baptist denomination.
There is currently no publicly available information indicating that the Southern Baptist Convention or Bowie Baptist Association knew of allegations involving Pastor George.
However, George’s arrest and the identification of at least two additional alleged victims raise important questions about what safeguards were in place at Oak Street Baptist Church, whether church leadership had previously received any concerns or warning signs involving George, and what steps the church is taking now to prevent potential future abuse.
Could Oak Street Baptist Church Bear Legal Responsibility?
The criminal case against George will determine whether he is guilty of the pending charge. A civil investigation, however, can examine whether Oak Street Baptist Church or other institutions could bear legal responsibility for failing to protect children from foreseeable harm.
Given George’s decades-long role at Oak Street Baptist Church, a civil investigation may examine questions such as:
- What background checks and child sexual abuse prevention training were required for pastors, employees, and volunteers?
- Did church leadership ever receive prior complaints involving George?
- Did anyone affiliated with the church observe conduct involving George that should have prompted further investigation or protective action?
- Were there policies for reporting suspected child sexual abuse, and were those policies followed?
Whether Oak Street Baptist Church and the larger Southern Baptist Convention could face civil liability would depend on the specific facts, including what church leadership knew or reasonably should have known and whether reasonable measures were taken to protect children entrusted to its care.
Civil litigation can provide survivors with a pathway to hold institutions accountable, pursue compensation for the harm they have suffered, and encourage stronger safeguards designed to better protect children in the future.
Legal Options for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse
If you or your child were sexually assaulted by Pastor Louie B. George or another religious leader, minister, or authority figure, please contact our firm for a compassionate, confidential consultation to learn more about your legal rights.
The attorneys at Andreozzi + Foote represent survivors of sexual abuse in Texas and across the United States.
Our firm has extensive experience handling cases involving churches, youth organizations, and other institutions entrusted with the safety of children.
We offer free case evaluations to help survivors understand their rights and explore their legal options. Our team approaches every case with compassion for survivors and a commitment to holding institutions accountable.
Contact us today.
Image sources: Louie B. George, via Texarkana ISD Education Foundation, Mugshot of Louie B. George, via Bowie County Inmate Roster. Background: Oak Street Baptist Church, © Google, Google Maps.
