Former Mac County pastor who was accused of involvement in sex cult in 2006, charged with raping 10-year-old

A former McDonald County pastor who was alleged to be the ringleader of a McDonald County sex cult in 2006, has been charged with the rape of a 10-year-old girl in the summer of 2013.

McDonald County officials say the rape was reported in August.

Raymond Lambert II, 67, Washburn, was arrested Wednesday by the Missouri State Highway Patrol earlier this week. Bond has been set at $5,000 cash only.

(Photo- Raymond Lambert, front, is shown during a court hearing in 2006.)

Felony charges in the earlier case against Lambert were filed in 2006, dismissed according to the McDonald County prosecuting attorney due to witnesses being reluctant to testify, though an attorney for the witnesses said that was not the case.

A McDonald County grand jury indicted Lambert in February 2008, charging him with four counts of child molestation, three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of child abuse in connection with ritual sex abuse of children.

Janice Durbin, who was McDonald County prosecuting attorney at the time, dismissed charges against Lambert June 10, 2008, again citing reluctance of witnesses. 

At the time the charges were filed against him, Lambert was minister of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church. Lambert and the church were located in what media described as a "compound" in rural McDonald County. Approximately 100 attended the church, which was termed a "cult" at that time and was not connected to any official Baptist organization.

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