Local pastor arrested on new sexual-assault charges

August 12, 2016 at 9:03 p.m. | Updated August 12, 2016 at 9:07 p.m.

by Lynn LaRowe

David Farren is escorted back to a jail transport after his initial appearance in court Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 following arrest on three counts of first-degree sexual assault. Farren is the pastor at Anchor Church in Texarkana. The offenses allegedly occurred when the girl was 16 and 17 years old during a three- to four-month period in 2013.
David Farren is escorted back to a jail transport after his initial appearance in court Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 following arrest on three counts of first-degree sexual assault. Farren is the pastor at Anchor Church in Texarkana. The offenses allegedly occurred when the girl was 16 and 17 years old during a three- to four-month period in 2013.

A Texarkana pastor charged earlier this month with two counts of sexual assault involving a teen girl was arrested a second time Friday.

David Wayne Farren, 41, was booked into the Miller County jail Friday on a charge of second-degree felony sexual assault and a misdemeanor charge of mandatory reporter failing to report sexual abuse, jail records show. The most recent arrest for sexual assault involves a different alleged victim than involved in three counts of first-degree sexual assault for which Farren was arrested Aug. 3.

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Photo by Samantha Baker

Northwest Arkansas Newspapers

NWA MEDIA/SAMANTHA BAKER Tiphani Moon (cq), consumer support personal with the Arkansas Support Network, watches Adam McDaniel kick around in the pool Saturday, June 15, 2013, at Brookhaven Apartments in Springdale. McDaniel uses a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy but can access the pool due to a ramp entrance.

Farren serves as lead pastor of Anchor Church in Texarkana. At a hearing Aug. 4, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell said Farren has worked as pastor and youth director at other area churches including Heritage Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church and Faith Church. Mitchell also said at the hearing that she expected Farren to face additional charges involving other alleged victims.

Second-degree sexual assault is punishable by five to 20 years in prison. Members of the clergy, educators, and medical personnel, for example, are considered "mandatory reporters" under the law. That means if they acquire knowledge that a child may have been sexually, abused they are obligated to report it to authorities or face a criminal charge. Farren is accused of violating the mandatory reporting law and faces up to a year in the county jail if convicted.

Farren was arrested Aug. 3 on three counts of first-degree sexual assault. Those offenses allegedly occurred in 2013 when the girl was 16 and 17 and Farren was serving as her youth pastor. First-degree sexual assault is punishable by six to 30 years in prison.

Farren was free on bond posted on a $25,000 bail at the time of his arrest Friday. He is now being held in the Miller County jail. Farren is expected to make an initial court appearance Monday on the new charges.

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