More proof that just because you are a man of God–or are pals with Pat Robertson–doesn’t mean you’re not a creep.

Jackson Senyonga–a influential Ugandan pastor living in Texas with ties to Pat Robertson,  Jack Hayford (president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and part of the Promise Keepers) and other big name evangelical ministers, plus his own church Christian Life Ministries–is also a member of Dr. C. Peter Wagner’s dominionist International Coalition of Apostles, 

a global movement of evangelicals [which] has developed over the past decade that seeks to free cities and neighborhoods from social scourges even as it "takes them for God."

Last year Senyonga–pastor of the fastest growing church in Uganda who owns an orphanage serving over 1,000 children in that country and is busy raising money to build more–was on United Airlines flight to San Francisco. Once on board, he changed seats–despite a number of empty spots on the flight–so he was sitting in a center seat between a older man and a 13-year old girl traveling as an unaccompanied minor. Because the center is just so convenient and comfy especially when there’s an empty row of available.

During the flight, according to the girl, he repeatedly touched her, and then stuck his hands inside her clothes, tugged on her underwear and passed his hands over her privates, at which point, the girl shouted

I want to move, I want to move!

Senyonga was detained at the Oakland Airport, and he and the girl were questioned by Alameda County sheriffs, and the FBI. Senyonga’s stories to the authorities kept shifting and changing and at one point he blamed the girl’s looks:

Senyonga estimated her to be 21 or 22 years old. He believed this, he said, because "she was a big girl." He also told police she was mature and that she was well-endowed in the breasts. When asked if he took notice of the pin on her chest, the one that indicated she was an unaccompanied minor, he said he never saw it. 

Senyonga was arrested and released on bail. The SF Weekly reports that

A source close the investigation told SF Weekly that the FBI agents who worked on the case were convinced that the girl was telling the truth, and that she was traumatized. They also believed that when Senyonga moved up three rows to take the middle seat, he did so to take advantage of a young girl who looked weak and insecure — typical predatory behavior.

Senyonga appealed to his friends and believers to pray for him, claiming the flight attendants spun an accidental brush of the hands and an attempt to tie his shoes into a defamatory incident. The SF Weekly reports:

Although they tried to put pressure on the U.S. Attorney’s office to take the case, the FBI source said, it was ultimately declined.

I don’t think this is what Jesus had in mind when he suggested folks pray in his name for miracles. But maybe God has a bigger bitch slap in mind for the pastor than a criminal trial.

The girl involved has been deeply–and understandably–affected by Senyonga’s actions, says her mother, and is willing to testify. So the family is moving ahead with a civil suit against both Senyonga and United Airlines.

[H/T Jezebel]