Former Clearwater County Pastor Going to Prison for Sexually Abusing Children

BAGLEY, Minn. — A former pastor in northwestern Minnesota was found guilty of 13 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. He was sentenced Wednesday to 33 years and 10 months in prison for having sexual contact with children.

The Rev. Scott Morey, Shevlin, Minn., was charged in 2014 with eight first-degree, three second-degree and three fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. According to the Clearwater County Attorneys Office his convictions are related to engaging in sexual contact with two juvenile males.

Morey was a pastor in three Minnesota churches: Calvary Lutheran Church in Winger, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bejou and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in McIntosh.

The sexual abuse occurred at a residence in Clearwater County. According to the Clearwater County Attorneys Office Morey offered his victim’s material items in exchange for sexual acts. The items included money, an iPod and a phone.

At Morey’s sentencing hearing Wednesday afternoon in Clearwater County District Court, the prosecution asked for 44½ years in prison, and the defense countered with 15 years in prison.

According to the Clearwater County Attorneys Office if Morey exhibits good behavior in prison and successfully completes a sex offender program, he could ultimately spend only two-thirds of his sentence in prison, which would be about 22 years. However, Morey will spend a lifetime as a registered sex offender.