The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A youth pastor in South Carolina is facing multiple charges after allegedly recording girls as young as 14 while they were in the shower at the church.
According to reports, church officials at the Gowensville Baptist Church in Landrum received a report that a 35-year-old student pastor working for them victimized females by recording them in the shower. They notified the authorities about the situation.
Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office followed up on the report, and an investigation was opened.
The authorities looked through the storage on the man’s phone, and they reportedly discovered videos of women taking showers at Gowensville Baptist. There were reportedly at least five alleged victims and some of them are believed to be children as young as 14 years old. The incidents allegedly began last summer.
On an occasion outside of the church, a woman was taking a shower at her mother’s home when she spotted a suspicious light outside the window. The woman got her sister, and they confronted the man together before they called the authorities.
The suspect was reportedly identified as the youth pastor.
Last week, the man was taken into custody and booked into the county jail. He is currently facing five counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of voyeurism, and it was reported by the authorities that additional charges may be added. Currently, he is being held without bond.
The police are still working to find out if there are additional victims.
The church released a statement about the situation and confirmed that the suspect was let go from his position as a youth pastor.
Some church members reported concern over not knowing if they and their loved ones had been recorded.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a sex offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.