An Arlington church community is in shock after pastor Troyce Hernandez was arrested late last month on a charge of indecency with a child by sexual contact stemming from an allegation dating back to 2008, according to court records. Hernandez, 50, who has been the pastor of True Grace Church in Arlington, was taken into custody following an Irving police investigation that produced an arrest affidavit detailing contact with a then‑14‑year‑old girl. The charge is a second‑degree felony under Texas law and carries potentially steep prison time if a jury ever finds him guilty, leaving congregants and neighbors bracing for what comes next as detectives keep digging through records.
What investigators allege
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the affidavit says the alleged incident happened in the summer of 2008 inside an Irving apartment when the girl was about 14. Detectives wrote that Hernandez touched the teen’s back and stomach, then became erect and covered himself with a pillow. The document, obtained by local TV and cited in subsequent coverage, also states that Hernandez later told investigators he did not remember the encounter but did not deny it. The victim’s outcry was reported to police years ago, and detectives reopened the case after newer information surfaced and was brought to investigators, according to the affidavit as described in that reporting.
Arrest and booking
Irving police arrested Hernandez on January 29 and booked him into the Dallas County jail on the indecency with a child by sexual contact charge. Online booking records list the same offense and show a January intake at the jail; court dockets reflect that a bond was set in connection with the warrant. Public arrest listings and the posted booking photo confirm Hernandez’s processing into county custody following the Irving arrest, according to Texas Arrests.
Church response
True Grace Church acknowledged on social media that Hernandez had been serving as a pastor at the congregation, though the church did not immediately answer follow‑up questions, according to reporting. The small non‑denominational church advertises services, contact information, and an active kids ministry online, which some parents said has made the arrest especially unsettling. Neighbors and several congregants told reporters that the accusation felt blindsiding, while others spoke up for Hernandez’s character and stressed that they plan to wait for the legal process to play out, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Legal stakes
Under Texas law, indecency with a child by sexual contact is classified as a second‑degree felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Indecency with a child by exposure is treated as a third‑degree felony, with a lower sentencing range. A conviction on either version typically triggers sex‑offender registration requirements and can bring lasting legal and civil fallout that stretches far beyond any prison term. Those penalty ranges and statutory definitions are set out in the Texas Penal Code and summarized by Justia.
Next steps in the case
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the investigation and will decide whether to pursue formal charges, according to court records and media reports. If prosecutors choose to move forward, a judge would schedule an arraignment, and the case would begin its march through the Dallas County court system. Investigators have asked anyone with information related to the allegation to contact the Irving Police Department, which is leading the ongoing investigation, according to Irving Weekly.
The arrest has lit up neighborhood conversations and social media feeds, with parents and parishioners voicing a mix of alarm, disbelief, and support. Detectives say the case remains open, and what happens next largely depends on what prosecutors decide and what additional evidence, if any, surfaces in the coming weeks.
