Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Pastor accused of sexually assaulting girl from congregation

Updated Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 | 4:08 p.m.

Click to enlarge photo

Otis Holland

A Las Vegas pastor will appear before a Henderson judge Thursday to face sexual assault charges involving children.

Otis Holland, 54, was charged with two counts of sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age, one count of sexual assault of a minor under 16 years of age and two counts of lewdness with a child under the age of 14, according to a criminal complaint. He was arrested Dec. 17 for allegations involving a girl in his congregation -- then on Tuesday a second alleged victim came forward, police said.

The first victim's father alerted police Dec. 8 about the alleged sexual abuse after she told him about the encounters with Holland, a pastor of United Faith. The congregation includes about 80 members and meets in the lobby of Rob's Tax Service in the 2400 block of East Hacienda Avenue in Las Vegas, the report states.

According to the police report, the alleged sexual assaults occurred on five occasions in a limousine and at his Henderson residence from April 2008 through Dec. 25, 2009. The victim's parents had allowed her to go to Holland's house under the pretense that she was receiving counseling.

The girl described to investigators numerous sexual acts Holland allegedly performed on her, according to the police report. At one point, she told police she saw a video camera in the "secret" back room where Holland is accused of assaulting her.

"Otis stated to her that she couldn't tell anyone about what had occurred due to the fact that if he was caught, he would go to prison for a long time and the church would be ruined and it would be all her fault," police said in the report.

Members of Holland's congregation went to a police station after the allegations surfaced and argued Holland "was a good man who wouldn't do that," according to the police report. Investigators, however, instructed them not to dissuade other possible victims from coming forward.

According to the police report, Holland's previous criminal record includes a conviction for disorderly conduct in California in 1981 and an arrest for domestic battery in Las Vegas in 2005. That case was later dismissed.

Holland was taken to the Henderson Detention Center and posted bail Dec. 20. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday at Henderson Justice Court.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy