Robert Shiftlet, a youth pastor at Denton Bible Church, was released early from prison for good behavior. 

Authorities detained Shiftlet for sexually assaulting 14 girls from a Denton church and another at a Little Rock, Arkansas church. The former pastor got a 33-month jail sentence but only served time for 25 months.

Early Release From Prison

According to the victims, it took more than six weeks for the U.S. Department of Justice to notify them of his early release. 

An email stated that the early release was immediate and unexpected so that no warning could be given in advance. 

According to FOX 4 News, Shiflet was sentenced to 33 months in jail in June 2021 after entering into a plea agreement with the federal government. The court expressed regret that a longer prison term was not included in the plea bargain. 

The 1996 incident that led to Shiflet's conviction began when he met a girl at Denton Bible who was then 14 years old. The following year, he took his eighth-grade class camping at Arkansas's Buffalo National River, where he subsequently sexually assaulted a student who was alone. 

Allegedly, he warned her to keep quiet, according to the prosecution.

Despite Pastor Tommy Nelson's claims in May 2022 that he didn't find out about Shiflet's misdeeds until 2015, an investigation by an attorney hired by the church revealed that Denton Bible Church canceled Shiflet's ordination at least a decade earlier. 

A letter from 2001 also claims that Shiflet's tendency to spend time alone with girls led to Denton Bible's denial of his promotion to high school pastor. Nelson, however, claimed that he suggested Shiflet for the youth pastor position at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Prosecutors alleged that Shiflet repeatedly had sex with a 16-year-old girl in the youth group, including on vacation to Florida. Per the report, two victims boldly confessed Shiflet's mistreatment of them as minors to a counselor at Denton Bible in 2005. 

Now that 52-year-old Shiflet calls Weatherford, Texas, as his home, he must register as a sex offender. For the rest of his life, he will be monitored as well.

About Denton Bible Church

Initially, Denton Bible Church (DBC) was only a small church. 

DBC has brought many people to Jesus and strengthened their faith through biblical teaching and discipleship because of its persistent prayer, faith in God, and abundant grace.

As stated on its website, the church members serve God based on its doctrine. 

The church's doctrinal statement has been grouped into categories to comprehend better what DBC believes and teaches through its different ministries.

DBC believes that all true believers make up God's church. It is the universal and local manifestations of the body and bride of Christ, created through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Christ's baptism.

The worldwide church is the body of Christ, made up of all the redeemed who the Holy Spirit has baptized.

The Community

The Denton Bible Church is a nondenominational, noncharismatic, fundamentalist Christian congregation in Denton, Texas.

The church offers various ministries so it can serve the community, the nation, and the world. 

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