BELLEVIEW, Fla. A 30 year old Youth Pastor has been arrested for sending sexually explicit messages to a 15 year old girl.
Christopher Patrick, a youth pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Belleview, Fla was arrested on Tuesday morning, Feb 12 after the authorities were alerted by teen parents of the youth group. Patrick denied knowing anything about text messages when arrested and instead requested a lawyer. Authorities was able to retrieve text messages from his phone including ones Patrick telling the victim to deny everything to the church and authorities. He also told the victim to tell investigators that she changed the name on the text message to make it look like it was him.
It seems that the victim still had feelings for Patrick as she did not fully cooperate with police in this matter.
According to the detectives’ report, two other teens looked at the victims phone and found sexual texts. One of the teens recognized the number sending the text messages as belonging to Patrick.The teen knew the number because Patrick, the youth pastor, would pick her and others up and drive them to church. The teen said it was the same number she used to communicate with Patrick.
Patrick has been charged with obscene communication using a computer, soliciting and luring a child, and cruelty towards a child by transmitting harmful information to a minor.
Patrick, who has served at Grace for a year, was born in Florida, is married and has two children.Christopher Patrick has been released on a $4,000 bond.
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