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Monday, November 10, 2008

Youth Pastor Watch

posted by on November 10 at 11:05 AM

Tennessee:

YPW1110.jpgA youth minister here was arrested yesterday by Rutherford County authorities who allege that he has committed several offenses involving some type of sexual exploitation of minors.

Daniel J. Lowhorn, 29, of W. Whitehall Road, Cookeville, a youth minister at Midway Baptist Church on Old Kentucky Road, is charged with 14 counts of sexual exploitation-related offenses, according to Rutherford County Sheriff’s Detective Mickey McCullough.

More about Lowhorn from the Upper Cumberland Daily News:

Daniel Lowhorn, 29, is a Cookeville native well known for his musical and leadership skills and for his commitment to his faith.

In addition to his work as the part-time Youth Pastor for Midway Baptist Church, he has been instrumental in collaborating with other leaders to create Christian worship events for youth throughout the region. As owner of LTD “Learning to Walk” productions, Lowhorn provides clients with web design and video production services.

Friends and youth have reacted in disbelief. “It is not true. It cannot be. I just won’t believe that.” Said one friend of over 10 years.

Lowhorn is faced with two counts of solicitation of a minor, two counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and 10 counts of solicitation of a minor to observe sexual conduct, according to Detective Mickey McCullough.

Connecticut:

David Esarey, 30, of Newtown, the youth minister at Stepney Baptist Church in Monroe, was charged Wednesday with employing a minor in an obscene performance, third-degree child pornography, and risk of injury to a minor….

Police said the girl later told them she initially went to see Esarey for counseling about the meaning of God and that Esarey was trying to help her understand life. The girl and Esarey began talking about oral sex and sexual intercourse, although they didn’t touch except for the occasional hug, police said. Later e-mail exchanges between the girl and the minister contained sexually explicit images, police said.

Esarey was confronted by police and admitted he had counseled the girl privately, but he denied e-mailing her any photos. He claimed there were a number of male teens interested in having sex with the 15-year-old, and told police they could have used the church computer and his cell phone to send her e-mails.

RSS icon Comments

1

Wow, that guy is...what is it the kids say?...oh, that right...HAAWWT!!!

Posted by Chris | November 10, 2008 11:26 AM
2

Can we ban youth pastors from Seattle? I mean, fuck, california bans marriage of committed couples, so can't we ban youth pastors who are obviously hurting kids and churches?

Posted by Original Monique | November 10, 2008 11:29 AM
3

maybe someone should take away their right to marry.

Posted by onion | November 10, 2008 11:30 AM
4

wow. these stories keep coming.

definitely no shortage of youth ministers counseling themselves all over minors.

what does it all mean??!!!

Posted by AK | November 10, 2008 1:38 PM
5

What it means is they teach their children to be like them. Subservient to their church and all of it's myths and superstitions and molesters. Don't think. Don't question. Just believe what you are told.

Posted by Vince | November 10, 2008 4:02 PM
6

Nice touch, where he tries to throw the blame on the kids.

Posted by Pam | November 10, 2008 6:32 PM

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