The Houston pastor is charged with raping and impregnating a young family member and is back in court Tuesday

HOUSTON – A local pastor accused of sexually assaulting a minor family member and also allegedly having a child with her when she was 14 is due back in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

We first brought you the story last October after the allegations against Pastor Robert L. Carter surfaced. On Monday evening, another family member of the alleged victim, who spoke out against Carter at the time, spoke to us again.

“Well, he's been in and out of court for the last year,” said the family member, who we are not identifying to protect the identity of the alleged victim.

Carter, a pastor and bishop, was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child and sexual assault of a child between the ages of 14 and 17.

“How could you show your face in a church where you pretend to keep the Word of God or speak the Word of God,” said the alleged victim’s family member.

He says Carter abused the girl about 600 times, starting when she was seven and then impregnating her when she was 14.

“I mean, it's terrible for one, but I was waiting for the justice system to step in and do what they could do,” the family member said.

He says Carter has to plead guilty by tomorrow or go to trial. While the Harris County District Attorney's Office says it cannot comment on plea deals before they are reached, KPRC 2 has confirmed that Carter is due back in court on Tuesday.

“They have a new judge, a no-nonsense judge, and I think she is moving the case forward as best she can,” the family member said.

Shortly after the arraignment last year, Carter posted $200,000 bail. The alleged victim's family member we spoke to said the baby she gave birth to, now six years old, was adopted by a loving family.

“This child is in the best place possible,” he said.

As for the alleged victim himself.

“She was just tired, she was tired of being scared,” the family member said.

The alleged victim's family member added that she has been cooperating with the prosecutor and working to heal from the trauma caused by Carter.

“I've never met anyone, a woman, who was stronger than that woman there. I've never met a woman who can get up every day and not go crazy knowing the facts,” he said.

The family member hopes this story will not only bring justice for their loved one, but also motivate other potential victims of sexual abuse to come forward.

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