The lead pastor of the Craig-based Church of Destiny was arrested for allegedly attempting to strangle a juvenile on June 15, according to an affidavit for arrest.

Parrish Terry, 58, of Craig, is charged with second-degree assault strangulation, a Class 4 felony.

During an interview with Craig police, the juvenile told officers that Terry had allegedly “attempted to grab him by the side.” The juvenile noted that he “slapped (Terry’s) hand away” and said he doesn’t like to be touched there, states the affidavit.

When the juvenile said this, Terry allegedly started to chase the juvenile, according to the affidavit.

“At first, he thought it was play fighting, but then got scared” and locked himself in a room, says the document. The juvenile told police that Terry began trying to open the door and started pounding on it. 

When the juvenile opened the door, Terry allegedly grabbed him by the ears, then grabbed him by the throat, “lifting him up,” according to the affidavit.

“At one point, (Terry) pushed him against the wall, causing him to hit his head,” the affidavit continues.

According to the document, the juvenile took photos of the marks left on his neck. A Craig police officer also observed “light red marks on his neck” and “fingernail marks” after the incident.

The affidavit states that the juvenile told police that he had a lump on the back of his head and a headache, and could not properly breathe when Terry allegedly strangled him.

After a Craig police officer asked to speak with Terry, he “seemed apprehensive” and became “agitated,” according to the affidavit.

When police told Terry about the juvenile’s report of violence, Terry stated it was a “lie,” adds the document.

After police tried to speak with Terry again about the incident, he “seemed more agitated than before” and said to the officer, “I told you nothing happened,” he said to officers, according to the affidavit. Terry also told police the juvenile “lies a lot and is troubled,” the document adds.

When police asked Terry about the fingernail marks on the juvenile’s neck, Terry told police to “look and see if the marks on (the juvenile’s) neck were self-inflicted,” states the affidavit.

Terry also told police the juvenile “swung and hit” him, which police said “pointed out something physical did happen,” according to the affidavit.

Terry later told police that the juvenile “didn’t swing” at him but only “hit” him, states the document.

Police arrested Terry because his “statements of the events seemed to evolve when confronted” and based on “the images of (the juvenile’s) neck and head being consistent with (the juvenile’s) statements,” the affidavit adds.

According to the affidavit, police have received “prior reports of abuse” involving Terry and other juveniles. The juvenile later told another Craig police officer that he was “concerned about what might happen when (Terry) gets released from jail,” the affidavit adds.

The June 15 arrest is Terry’s first and only arrest in Colorado, according to criminal history documents provided by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. According to the Moffat County Combined Court clerk’s office, Terry was released from the Moffat County Jail after posting a $1,000 bond on June 16.

“The only thing I can say right now is it’s an ongoing case, and of course, with it being an ongoing case, there’s nothing that can be said until after the trial,” Terry said Monday.

Terry added that church operations are continuing “as normal as they can be.”

“Those who know me … they’re not curious or interested in any further information at this time,” Terry continued.

Terry’s next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Editor’s note: Every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.