UPDATED::Ronnie Gorton, Pastor of The Awakening Church, Becomes Suicidal After Rape Accusations

UPDATE:: Tipton County pastor faces 47 charges for alleged underage sex crimes

A Tipton County pastor was booked into jail Tuesday afternoon, one day after a grand jury indicted him on 47 charges related to sexually abusing minors.

Ronnie Gorton, the former pastor of Awakening Church in Atoka, has been accused by three people so far, Tipton County Sheriff Chief Deputy Billy Daugherty confirmed.

One of Gorton’s alleged victims was under the age of 13, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
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During their investigation, they learned that Atoka police were investigating Gorton after an underage boy accused Gorton of raping him. That incident allegedly took place at Gorton's home just weeks earlier.

Daugherty said two more victims came forward after WREG’s initial story aired, bringing the total to three, but he said that might not be the final number.

“There could be more, potentially, victims and certainly if there are any victims that remain, we encourage them to come forward,” Daugherty said.

I have hesitated all week on whether to include this narrative or not.  Suicidal thoughts are not something to be flippant about but allegations have been made although no charges have been filed at the time of press.

Ronnie Gorton, a married father and lead pastor of The Awakening Church in Atoka, Tennessee, has been taken in for a psychiatric evaluation after he allegedly threatened to take his life over accusations that he raped two underage boys.

Tipton County investigators told WMCActionNews5 that a 17-year-old boy came forward last week to allege that Gorton, 39, who has been married to his wife Rhonda for 15 years, sexually assaulted, molested, and raped him on multiple occasions. The Atoka Police Department also reported receiving a similar charge from a 20-year-old man who alleged that Gorton sexually assaulted him when he was underage.

Tipton County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Billy Daugherty told The Leader that the latest instance of alleged assault by the preacher took place on Jan. 31 and the case is a multijurisdictional investigation.

Ronnie Gorton, Pastor of The Awakening Church, Becomes Suicidal After Rape Accusations