Tulsa man accused of raping young girl at church function formally charged

TULSA - A Tulsa man has been formally charged for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl at a church event.

Chris Denman, 20, faces counts of first-degree rape, forcible sodomy, lewd molestation and use of a computer to facilitate a sex crime.

Denman was arrested earlier in the month after the girl's mother told police her daughter was raped.

The victim's mother says Denman was working as a Victory Christian Center employee at a youth event when the incident occurred.

The girl told investigators the rape occurred Aug. 13 in a stairwell inside the church near the band room.

According to the police report, the girl told leadership of the incident Aug. 15 and again Aug. 22.

The victim's mother says the church didn't notify her about the incident until Aug. 30, 17 days after it occurred. She said the church conducted its own investigation before telling her anything.

"The police should have been notified the second that (church leaders) heard of this," said the woman, who wanted to hide her identity.

She said her daughter attended the church for three years and was at a summer camp when the incident happened.

She feels betrayed by the church and wants to encourage other parents to talk to their kids, particularly if they went to the church.

"It scares me to death to think about this man at church camp all summer long to be around our children," she said. "The church is not what it makes itself out to be."

2News reached out to Victory Christian about Denman's employment and about the allegations. The church chose not to comment.