Arrest of Youth Pastor for Soliciting Minors

A youth pastor has been accused of posing as a teenage boy online to solicit explicit images from underage girls on several social media platforms.

Jaco Bryan Barnett, aged 34, was working as an associate pastor at Catawba Valley Baptist Church in Virginia when he was taken into custody on Wednesday. Reportedly, he created a fake identity as a 17-year-old named “Jodie Johnson” to communicate with a 15-year-old girl.

Over several days, he persuaded her to send him sexually explicit videos, according to federal court documents reviewed by a local news outlet. It appears Barnett had repeatedly pressured the girl into sharing nude photos during July, and even sent her an explicit photo of himself, despite her apprehensions.

Interestingly, authorities noted that on May 19, while communicating with another 15-year-old girl, Barnett answered a call from his wife just minutes apart from receiving images from the minor. He allegedly continued messaging the girl while still on the phone with his wife.

The situation came to light when the girl’s mother realized something was amiss after discovering an explicit message on her daughter’s phone. Upon further investigation, she found that the number connected to “Jodie Johnson” belonged to Barnett.

Investigators reported that Barnett seems to be targeting numerous underage girls on platforms like TikTok and has been trying to obtain explicit images through Discord and Snapchat.

The FBI has stated that such crimes are alarming for parents and highlights the need for educating children about the risks associated with strangers online. They emphasized their commitment to holding predators accountable, noting that the justice system will fully confront those who attempt to exploit minors.

If convicted, Barnett faces severe penalties, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.