Inola pastor to serve up to 25 years, 10 fewer than jury-recommended

Dec. 7—District Judge Stephen Pazzo sentenced an Inola pastor to 25 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of raping and inappropriately touching young girls.

Roy Shoop, 59, must also pay $30,000 in fines, and he will remain on the sex offender registry until he dies. Shoop was the pastor at Cowboy Gatherin’ Church.

A Rogers County jury found Shoop guilty Oct. 9; it recommended he spend 35 years behind bars.

Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton said he was glad to send a predator to the penitentiary, where he will likely die.

“He’s getting [at least] 85% of 25 years,” Walton said. “I think if he lives that long and gets out, he’s not gonna hurt anybody else. That’s his punishment.”

According to court documents, Shoop sexually violated three young girls between 2018 and 2020.

Each girl, all aged 12 to 15, had come to Shoop’s residence for rodeo training. Prosecutors said he used his position as a pastor and mentor to abuse the girls.

In a written statement, one of the girls said Shoop’s actions took away her innocence and her ability to trust others.

“I am thankful that justice was able to be served and I have people who love and support me,” the girl wrote. “A true man of God would never do this.”

Another one of the girls wrote in her statement that before Shoop assaulted her, she saw him as a godly person, and she saw herself as part of his family.

She said Shoop ruined her life.

“You broke my trust in the church,” the girl wrote. “I felt betrayed, hurt, and angered because of what you did to me. I am scared to leave my house out of fear of seeing you or your followers. For years, you have made up rumors about me and my family which has made living a normal life difficult and fearful.”

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Prosecutors from District Attorney Matt Ballard’s office handled the case.

“Shoop had no right to bully and gaslight and violate his young victims all while holding himself out to be some pillar of the community,” Ballard said.

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