A former church volunteer who worked as an associate pastor at IMRSN Church in Fort Worth is being held in the Tarrant County Jail after his arrest in Grapevine last week on charges including indecency with a child and two counts tied to domestic violence. Brandon Dillard, 48, was taken into custody on October 7 and faces one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact, one count of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, and one count of assault on a family or household member by impeding breathing or circulation, according to CBS Texas.
Court records show Dillard is being held on a $230,000 bond, according to CBS News. According to his Instagram bio, Dillard had worked as an associate pastor at IMRSN Church, also known as Immersion Church, which describes itself as a congregation that holds three Sunday services. Formal booking records reviewed by Tarrant County Mugshots Zone confirm Dillard was processed into the Tarrant County Jail on October 8, the day after his arrest in Grapevine.
CBS Texas reported that details surrounding the arrest had not been released. No further information about the timeline of the alleged offenses, the identity of any alleged victim, or whether the incidents occurred on church property has been disclosed by authorities.
Resignation Came Weeks Before Arrest
Dillard had resigned from his volunteer role at IMRSN Church several weeks before the church issued a statement on the matter, as reported by CBS Texas. The gap between his departure and the public disclosure of his arrest has not been explained by church officials or law enforcement.
Texas law places broad reporting obligations on clergy and church volunteers. Under Texas Family Code Section 261.101, any individual — including pastors, church staff, and religious volunteers — who suspects child abuse must report it immediately to law enforcement or child protective services, according to The Bible Seminary. Failing to report suspected abuse or neglect in Texas is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $4,000, according to Southern Methodist University, a standard that applies across all professions and volunteer roles.
What the Charges Carry Under Texas Law
Indecency with a child by sexual contact is classified as a second-degree felony under Texas Penal Code Section 21.11(a)(1), according to FindLaw. Separately, assault on a family or household member by impeding breathing or circulation is a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code Section 22.01(b)(2)(B).
Open Questions as Investigation Continues
Authorities have not released details clarifying the timeline between his resignation and his arrest.
Whether a Tarrant County grand jury will indict Dillard, whether additional victims or charges emerge as Grapevine police continue their investigation, and whether IMRSN Church faces further scrutiny over its internal response or volunteer screening remain open questions. Grapevine police have not said when more information might be released.
