OKC Church Leader Accused Of Fondling 9-Year-Old Girl

Michael Konopasek, News 9

UPDATE:  The sex charge filed against metro church leader Floyd Chambers has been dropped by the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office. 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A metro church leader answers allegations that he sexually molested a minor church member. An elder at the Cherokee Hills Church of Christ is accused of fondling a 9-year-old girl.

The allegations surround 76-year-old Floyd Chambers, also known as Beef. He has served the church for more than a decade. Now, Beef is charged with a felony. He is currently out on bond, but continues to volunteer at the church as he awaits his next court appearance.

Beef was working his Northwest Oklahoma City church Tuesday nearly a month after being accused touching a young church member's genitalia. He would not go on camera Tuesday.

"We did a full and complete investigation to determine that this charge would ultimately be filed on him and that he would be placed under arrest," said Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow of the Oklahoma City Police Department.

According to court documents, the victim's family is close friends with Beef. The girl and her sister spent the night with Beef and his wife Bunny at their Oklahoma City home on July 11, 2011.

Court documents also claim the couple sleeps in separate beds, and Beef told the girl to sleep in his bed. That's when the girl said Beef put his hand down her pants.

"I couldn't believe it," said longtime friend and neighbor Henry Collins. "I still don't believe it. I don't think the man's capable of it."

Collins has known Beef for more than 20 years and said he is as good a friend as you could ever want.

"He'd do anything for you," Collins said. "He's just a real nice guy."

Beef's attorney said the truth will be on his client's side. Both Beef and his attorney said the allegations are false.

"The plead is not guilty," said criminal defense attorney Billy Bock. "It's definitely a he said, she said thing."

Even in the wake of a charge, the Cherokee Hills Church of Christ continues to allow Beef to volunteer at the church office.

"He has pulled himself back from any individual teaching of children so as to keep the integrity of the church," Bock said.

No one from the church would go on camera to talk about the allegations on Tuesday.

The next court date for the case is scheduled for late October. Oklahoma City Police said this is the first time they have issued a report on Beef.