MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Mississippi minister and educator who was accused of sex acts with several underage boys he knew from his position as their pastor, tutor or employer will now be serving 18 years in prison.

Daniel Paul Harris pleaded guilty to the sex crimes in court and is ordered to serve his time in jail without the possibility of parole or early release, according to the Desoto County District Attorney’s Office.

Harris will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and will no longer be able to serve as an educator.

On May 4, 2023, Harris was arrested and charged with two counts of molesting (touching a child for lustful purposes), two counts of sexual battery, and one count of unnatural intercourse.

The District Attorney’s office says the sex crimes against children go as far back as 2015 and that Harris “continuously molested teenagers while under his care as a tutor, pastor, and
authority figure.”

A victim reportedly came forward after telling a family member about the incident that took place during his childhood, the D.A.’s office said. Documents state that his testimony helped other victims to come forward.

Harris was listed in documents as a pastor at a church at 8300 Craft Road, which is the address of Olive Branch Christian Church. A website also listed him as CEO of the Kaimen Center, an extracurricular academy for homeschoolers and others, at Olive Branch Christian Church.

Victims told police that they were assaulted on multiple occasions. The victims’ names have been redacted from documents related to five victims, but some details of the alleged crimes, including oral and anal sex, are written plainly.

The documents allege that sexual crimes occurred at Harris’ home, at a gym on Highway 178, and at his church.