A 45-year-old Del City man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of producing child pornography involving a 15-year-old girl.
According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, Donnie Ray Schultz, a convicted sex offender, met thegirl, who was 14 at the time, through a class he taught at a local church.
Schultz, who was convicted of second degree rape in 1995 and remained on the state's sex offender registry until 2013, was teaching a discipleship classat Calvary Christian Church when he met the girl. The two became involved in a sexual relationship, which began in July 2014 and continued throughNovember 2015, when the teen told a teacher that she felt "brainwashed" by the man.
A church spokesman said that they were aware that Schultz had been a convicted sex offender, but the pastor of Schultz's prior church reached out to themto vouch for the man. According to the spokesman, the pastor of Schultz's previous church said that he was trustworthy and should be allowed to jointhe church.
The spokesman said that the discipleship class Schultz taught was intended to be for adults only, and that seven adults took turns leading the class. Theyemphasized that he was not a paid employee of the church, but rather a church member volunteering to lead the class.
Schultz was charged in Oklahoma County District Court with 53 felony counts related to the sexual assault of the teen. Charges included multiple countsof forcible sodomy and second degree rape, as well as charges related to the production and possession of child pornography.
Because Schultz took sexually explicit photographs of the teen, he was indicted on federal child pornography charges in February 2016.
All state charges were dismissed shortly after Schultz pleaded guilty to the federal charges.
Because of the man's prior conviction of second degree rape, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of 50years. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and lifetime sex offender registration.
Sentencing will take place in July.
