Porn-addicted children’s minister allegedly molested child during Christmas vacation: ‘Gave into temptation’

A Wyoming children’s minister admitted he couldn’t be left alone with kids after he molested a young girl during his Christmas vacation in Florida, according to cops.

Richard Scott Shaw, 69, told cops he “gave into temptation” when he allegedly groped the victim — who was under 12 years old — over her clothing on two separate occasions while visiting the Sunshine State, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

The girl confided in her mother shortly after Shaw returned to Wyoming, where he serves as a worship leader at Under Command Ministries. The enraged parent then called the minister, who allegedly confessed to the perverted crime, but claimed it was an accident.

The girl was one of Shaw’s two known victims, police discovered.

He changed his tune when he was taken into custody last week, telling officers he was “afraid of the consequences.”

“It wasn’t with the intention of hurting anybody,” Shaw said, according to court documents obtained by Law & Crime.

Richard Scott Shaw told cops he “gave into temptation” when he allegedly groped his victim over her clothing on two separate occasions. Polk County Sheriff⿿s Office

Shaw allegedly told officers he “gave in to temptation” when he groped the girl, and said he suffered from a pornography addiction.

The minister denied detectives’ accusations that he was a “sexual predator,” but admitted he shouldn’t be trusted to be near the girl again, the records show.

“When asked during the course of the investigation, ‘Should we trust you with a child?’ He said, ‘no I wouldn’t,’” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference.

“This guy is an evil person.”

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called Shaw an evil person after the minister told cops he shouldn’t be trusted around children. Facebook/Polk County Sheriff's Office

Wyoming police are conducting their own investigation to determine whether Shaw may have abused other kids in his home state, where he is affiliated with several churches.

Under Command Ministries, his main organization, did not answer requests for comment Thursday.

“This man should never be allowed to have access to children again,” Judd said.

Shaw is charged with two counts of lewd molestation on a child under 12 years.