A 74-year-old pastor from rural South Carolina is being held in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, after deputies booked him on two counts of molestation of a juvenile. His bond was set at $100,000, according to jail records and local reporting, and word of the arrest is now rippling through congregations in both states where he has spent years in the pulpit.
Arrest and charges in Livingston Parish
According to WBRZ, Douglas Zeb McDaris, 74, was booked last Friday in Livingston Parish on two counts of molestation of a juvenile. Jail records in the parish listed his bond at $100,000. WBRZ reported that, as of their latest check, no detailed court filings were immediately available in Livingston Parish related to the new charges.
Past ministry ties in South Carolina
Online listings identify McDaris as the pastor of New Beginnings Baptist Church in Six Mile on his Faithlife profile, and independent church directories include contact details for the same congregation. Those entries describe a small rural ministry where he preached before news of his arrest surfaced.
Traffic stop and out-of-state hold
South Carolina records show that McDaris was stopped for a seat belt violation in Pickens County on March 3, and that a “hold for out of state agency” was filed roughly two weeks later, WBRZ reported. It is not clear from the available records whether that traffic stop directly led to his detention on the Louisiana allegations. The same report notes that he is scheduled to appear in court in South Carolina on April 28.
Legal implications
Under Louisiana law, “molestation of a juvenile” is defined in statute and covers lewd or lascivious acts involving someone under 17; the statute text and potential penalties are outlined on FindLaw. The listed offenses are serious felonies, and anyone charged is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
What comes next
For now, the paper trail is thin. McDaris is set for a South Carolina court appearance on April 28, and if Louisiana prosecutors move forward locally, authorities could seek to have him transferred so he can face proceedings there. The case remains in its early stages, with public records in both states showing only limited filings so far.
