Prosecutors drop charges against southwest Mo. pastor accused of child sex abuse

Sex abuse charges dropped against Mo. pastor

NEOSHO, Mo. — Prosecutors have dropped their case against a southwest Missouri pastor accused of sexually abusing underage members of his congregation.

The Newton County prosecutor’s office said Tuesday that it does not plan to refile charges against 66-year-old George Otis Johnston. The Granby man was charged in 2006 with 17 counts of child molestation and statutory sodomy involving girls at Grandview Valley Baptist Church North.

Assistant prosecutor Bill Dobbs told the Neosho Daily News that some witnesses had recanted or changed their earlier stories.

Johnston was one of six people originally charged with abusing children at two small churches in Newton and McDonald counties. Charges against the other five were dismissed earlier.

Information from: Neosho Daily News, www.neoshodailynews.com