OK Pastor Arrested on ‘Peeping Tom’ Charges
Jurisdiction issue delayed his arrest for over a year
An Oklahoma pastor has been fired from his church and removed from the board of a Christian school after being arrested on multiple “peeping Tom” charges.
DestinyLife Church (video screenshot via 2 News Oklahoma) / Insert of Kendrick Oakley
Kendrick Oakley was arrested August 6 and charged with 11 “Peeping Tom” with electronic equipment offenses. Oakley is accused of trying to take photos of a woman at a Hobby Lobby store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in July 2024.
A loss prevention officer reportedly noticed Oakley via the store’s security cameras trying to film up the woman’s skirt. The officer followed Oakley to his car and wrote down his license plate number. The officer then notified the woman and helped her file a police report online, according to 2 News Oklahoma.
In a statement, Tulsa law enforcement blamed a jurisdiction issue for the long delay between his actions and his arrest.
“Mr. Oakley’s initial prosecution was declined by our office because Mr. Oakley claimed he was Indian, and therefore not able to be prosecuted by the State due to McGirt case law that prevents the State from having jurisdictional authority to prosecute,” the statement said. “Mr. Oakley was afforded due process and it was determined by the court that McGirt was not applicable to his case, and that he did not meet the criteria for Cherokee citizenship.”
Oakley served on staff at DestinyLife Church for three years and was recently elected to the board of Claremore Christian School, both located in Claremore.
The school and church released a joint statement in response to Oakley’s arrest.
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“In light of these developments, the DestinyLife Church body gathered Wednesday evening to process the difficult news,” the statement said. “Following that meeting, the CCS Board took immediate action to remove Mr. Oakley from the board. He will have no future involvement in any CCS activities or operations. Following a biblical model of church discipline, Kendrick Oakley has been dismissed from serving as an elder and as a member of the church staff.”
The lead pastor of DestinyLife church says, “This is heartbreaking news. Our greatest concern is for the victim and their family, as well as for those in our church and school communities who are impacted.”
Oakley is currently out of Tulsa County jail on bond.
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