Michigan Baptist Pastor Sentenced 11 - 25 Years in Prison for Raping His Daughters

A jury found Haught, 54, of Saginaw, guilty of nine felony criminal sexual conduct charges after a two-and-a-half-day trial in March. Last Thursday, he was sentenced to 11 to 25 years in prison.  

During the trial, jurors heard testimony from family members recounting how Haught, a former associate pastor at Midland Baptist Church and deacon at Coleman's Grace Baptist Church, used his "religious authority" to gain control over his ex-wife and daughters. 

Two victims testified that Haught ordered them to nap with him in his bed, which created the opportunity for him to sexually abuse them.  

"The evidence showed us that in the home, you eroded your wife's moral authority with your daughters to destroy her self confidence so that she would not stand up (against you)," Carras said. "All with the purpose of separating them from their mother - so that they would not look to her as a person for guidance and a person of authority. 

Haught was convicted of one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct relationship (CSC); four counts of second-degree CSC with a person under 13; and four counts of second-degree CSC relationship.

Members of Midland Baptist Church, including Pastor Jim Payne, listened as Midland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Atea Duso described how Haught used his background in theology to assert his dominance over the family.