The church leader arrested in Collin County had a weapons conviction and a protective order on file

A Collin County outreach church leader who was arrested this week on family violence charges had a domestic violence protective order filed against him by his ex-wife and has a criminal record in Oklahoma, including convictions for drug and weapons offenses, as public records show.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections records and court records show that David Scarberry, who serves at Revival City Church in McKinney, spent five years in an Oklahoma prison after being convicted in 2002 of using an assault weapon in a felony and two other drug crimes was found.

His ex-wife filed for a domestic violence protective order in 1994.

Scarberry, 53, was arrested Monday and charged with persistent family violence – a charge involving violence against a family member or close partner more than once within a 12-month period. It is not clear who the alleged victim was in connection with Scarberry.

He was being held at the Collin County Jail but was released on bond Tuesday.

In a phone call with KERA on Tuesday, Scarberry declined to comment on Collin County's allegations, other than to say it was a “misunderstanding” and “false accusations.”

“You can definitely say I’m not guilty because I’m not,” Scarberry said.

He did not respond to another call after KERA learned of his previous conviction.

Court records also show that Scarberry was arrested in Payne County, Oklahoma, in 1994 for assault and battery. His ex-wife filed the protective order that same day.

The assault and battery case was later dismissed with costs.

KERA has reached out to Revival City Church and will update this story with any response.

Do you have a tip? Email Penelope Rivera at [email protected].

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