Wichita Falls pastor found guilty of sexually abusing young girls in church office

A jury took 58 minutes of deliberation Tuesday to find a Wichita Falls pastor guilty of six counts of indecency with a child.

Ronnie Allen Killingsworth, 78, was found guilty of sexually abusing three young, now adult, girls between 2000 and 2011.

The verdict by the six-member jury of six men and six women was announced in the 30th District Court in front of about 70 spectators, including members of the Rephidim Church, where he is a pastor. Because of the large crowd, the hearing was moved from the 78th District Court.

78th District Judge Meredith Kennedy appointed a replacement juror to replace a juror who kept falling asleep.

Next comes the punishment phase of the process. He faces up to 20 years in prison in both cases.

Killingsworth testified in his own defense and denied the allegations during the trial, which began a week ago.