ARLINGTON, Texas — An Arlington pastor has been arrested on sexual assault charges, police said.
Police have arrested Ronald Goines in connection to an ongoing sexual assault investigation, the Arlington Police Department announced this week.
Police said Goines, 51, turned himself into the Tarrant County Jail on Thursday after the department's Sex Crimes Unit obtained two warrants for his arrest -- one for indecent assault and another for sexual assault. He was released from jail Saturday, July 27, after posting $23,000 in bail for two charges.
According to police, a woman filed a report with the department regarding Goines in June. Police said that report then spurred an investigation, which led to criminal charges being filed against Goines.
According to court records, the alleged victim met Goines and joined his church in 2022, and exchanged phone numbers with him in January of 2023, at which point they began texting frequently.
Per those same records, when the victim, who doesn't live in Dallas-Fort Worth, told the pastor she’d be in town for a conference last year, they agreed to meet up. Per the affidavit, Goines then invited her to an event on March 3, after which Goines and the woman drove back to his apartment because he told her he was having car trouble.
According to the affidavit, the victim alleged the Goines asked her a bunch of inappropriate questions upon entering his apartment, and then tried to kiss her. Court records said she denied his advances, but he then began kissing on her neck and rubbing her legs, eventually pulling her top down exposing her. Per the affidavit, the alleged victim told police that she Goines to stop and went to the restroom, but Goines followed her, barged in and made advances again. The woman told officers she eventually got Goines off of her and then left his resident, the affidavit said.
The affidavit also notes that the alleged victim told police she then met with Goines the next day as planned, went to an event at a local theater and then went back to Goines' apartment once more. Per the affidavit, the woman told police Goines again started kissing her neck, and tried to remove her clothing. The woman told police she repeatedly told Goines no, but he persisted, at one point putting his hands in her underwear, the affidavit states.
According to the arrest warrant, Goines told police that he did not "in no way shape or form" force himself upon the woman -- but, in a recording the alleged victim gave to police of a conversation between her and Goines after the incident, the pastor allegedly told the woman that "the bottom line is that you were uncomfortable, I caused it and I'm sorry. Period."
In announcing his arrest, police also acknowledged that Goines previously served on the City of Arlington's Unity Council and that he is also a former member of the Arlington Police Department's Clergy and Police Partnership Program (ACAPP).
The Arlington Police Department (APD) describes ACAPP as "a volunteer group made up of local leaders of faith-based organizations here in town." ACAPP members, APD said, will sometimes serve as actors in training events or visit stations to pray over officers.
Goines is also the founding and lead pastor of Koinonia Church in Arlington. WFAA reached out to the church for comment, but they have yet to respond.
Arlington Police asked that anyone with more information about Goines reach out to their Sex Crimes Unit.
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