Crime & Police

Another North Texas Pastor Charged With Sexual Misconduct With a Child

The charges against the True Grace pastor stem from a 2008 incident with a 14-year-old relative.
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Major scandals have rocked many North Texas churches.

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Another local pastor has been arrested for sexual misconduct, following a long-running trend among North Texas clergy. According to WFAA, Troyce Hernandez of Arlington’s True Grace Church, 50, was arrested by Irving police on Jan. 29 and charged with indecency with a child-sexual contact. 

A copy of the affidavit obtained by WFAA stated that the victim was a 14-year-old relative of Hernandez in 2008 and was in his apartment at the time of the alleged sexual contact. 

Irving police declined to provide information on the arrest, citing the “nature of the case,” but, due to “obvious public concern,” the spokesperson confirmed to the Observer that “the charges stem from an incident that occurred in 2008.” 

WFAA’s report includes a graphic description of the allegations, saying the suspect “became erect while touching her back and stomach,” while watching a movie. 

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“Police interviewed Hernandez, and he told police he ‘did not remember doing that but did not deny that it occurred,’ the affidavit stated, according to WFAA. “Investigators said Hernandez confirmed he lived in Irving within the timeframe of the reported incident.”

Some social media posts from anonymous accounts have proliferated, listing a bond amount, but that amount has not been confirmed. Dallas County jail records do not show anyone named Troyce (or Troy, which he is often referred to as) Hernandez currently in custody.  

The arrest marks the latest in a line of North Texas pastors being arrested for sexual misconduct, or resigning or being fired from their positions as a result of alleged misconduct. In September, John McKinzie of Frisco’s Hope Fellowship resigned after the church said that “sexual sin” and “multiple breaches of collective trust and his pastoral responsibilities” occurred over many years. In October, former megachurch pastor Robert Morris was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but six months suspended after pleading guilty to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child in Oklahoma. 

According to the snippet underneath the church’s Google search result on Wednesday, Hernandez, described as a “Christian businessman,” founded True Grace in 2014. That mention, however, is not currently visible on the church’s “About Us” webpage. In a 2025 podcast posted to YouTube, Hernandez, who is described as “a devoted husband, father,  grandfather and pastor” in the episode’s YouTube page, openly discussed his upbringing in Oak Cliff’s Arcadia Park neighborhood and subsequent addiction to crack cocaine. 

When reached by email for comment and to inquire about Hernandez’s status with True Grace, the church replied only with contact information for a Plano law firm. A message left with that law firm on Wednesday has not been returned. According to the church’s social media accounts, Hernandez did not preach in the most recent Sunday service on Feb. 1, but was active as recently as Jan. 18, with Instagram clips showing Hernandez as a regular presence in the church prior to that.

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