MLB Hall of Famer who said his relationship with Jesus ‘isn’t just lip service’ is charged with child rape

This Monday, Texas Rangers Hall of Fame pitcher John Wetteland was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a child three times over a period of two years, the Dallas News reported.

Wetteland, who is 52-years-old, was charged with one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14. He reportedly made bond and was released on the same day of his arrest.

He forced a relative to perform a sex act on him, according to his arrest-warrant affidavit, beginning in 2004 when the child was 4 years old. It happened two other times during a two-year period, the accuser told police.

The abuse occurred at Wetteland’s former home in Bartonville, about 10 miles south of Denton, the affidavit said.

In a New York Times interview conducted at the end of his career, Wetteland talked about the fact that he’s a born-again Christian whose life is centered around his relationship with Jesus.

“I honestly try and walk with Jesus Christ every day,” he said.

“My relationship with Jesus Christ is not lip service,” he continued. “It is of utmost importance to me. It is even more important than my relationship with my wife. I know that my wife considers her relationship with Him more important than her relationship with me.”

“Ultimately, that’s who I’m going to have to face,” he said, speaking of Jesus. “That’s going to be a great day.“

According to the arrest affidavit, the victim said that Wetteland “was gone most of the year for work responsibilities and would return for about a month at a time.” It was when Wetteland returned home that the abuse allegedly took place.

Police say Wetteland forced the boy to perform oral sex on him “on three separate occasions between the years of 2004-2006. Each of these three acts occurred while they were in the master bathroom shower located at [his] residence.”

As the New York Post points out, in the years since his baseball career ended, Wetteland worked at Liberty Christian School in Texas as the school’s baseball and Bible studies teacher. He’s divorced and has four children.

Featured image via Denton County Sheriff’s Office

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.