A Vian pastor charged last month with a felony count of lewd molestation in Sequoyah County District Court has now been set for a 2026 felony disposition docket, according to court records.
Michael Martin, 74, pastor of Vian Baptist Church, was formally charged on Nov. 13 and a felony warrant was issued for his arrest the same day.
He received a $10,000 bond and is to have no contact with the alleged victim as a condition of his bond.
Martin is now set for a 9 a.m. Jan. 14, 2026, felony disposition docket. According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Vian Police received a report on Sept. 22 of Martin allegedly touching a minor under the age of 16, in an inappropriate manner, at the church on Sept. 16.
The minor stated during an interview that while outside, Martin came up behind them, put his hands on their shoulders, and then “continued to get into their personal space.”
Martin reportedly let go of the minor’s shoulders but continued to stand close to them. The minor said they were too shaken to step away from Martin, and reported the alleged incident to one of the church’s youth leader.
When Martin walked away from the minor, the minor told the youth leader what happened and the youth leader stayed inside the church with the minor until they were picked up.
Vian Police Chief Mark Harkins said he interviewed Martin the next day at the police department and Martin was reportedly aware of the allegations made against him, according to the affidavit.
Martin claimed the allegations never happened, but then went on to say, “Or if it did happen, if it did, I am not saying it did because I don’t believe it did, I have a pretty good memory for circum- stances like that,” according to the affidavit.
Martin also stated several times during his interview “that if it happened, it was an accident” and that “the victim possibly backed into him,” although he claimed he did not remember the incident at all.
A church representative said Martin is currently on leave from the church.
If found guilty of the charge, District Attorney Jack Thorp said the crime is punishable by imprisonment for three to 20 years.
