« Park Ranger Charged With Porn Possession | Main | HE IS IN CUSTODY! Police Catch Sex Offender »
October 6, 2007
Youth Pastor Charged With Sexual Battery
Topics: News
LUTZ - A youth minister is facing allegations he molested a young girl a dozen years ago while babysitting her, authorities say.
Justin Ray Peterson, 31, of 1319 Big Sky Drive, Wesley Chapel, ministers to young adults at River of Life Church in Lutz, according to the church's Web site.
He was charged with two counts of sexual battery on a person younger than 12 and is in Orient Road Jail with no bail set, records show.
Hillsborough County deputies arrested Peterson around 2 p.m. Thursday at the church, 410 E. Chapman Road.
The girl, who now lives out of state, contacted authorities about the abuse in September.
In recorded phone conversations between Peterson and the girl, now a teenager, he told her he had been addicted to pornography and she was an 'easy target,' said sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway.
During the first incident, when the girl was 7, Peterson fondled her when he babysat her in 1995 at her parents' Tampa home, according to the arrest affidavit. Peterson was 18 at the time.
Then when she was 8, Peterson forced her to perform a sex act, the affidavit states.
Angeli Benjamin, attorney for River of Life Church, said Peterson had been ministering there about five years.
'This doesn't involve our church, and we don't have anything to say,' she said.
News Channel 8 reporter Chip Osowski contributed to this report. Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.
Posted by admin at October 6, 2007 7:11 PM
Comments
Posted by ( Khianna Ward ) on October 6, 2007 at 12:37 p.m.
I have to say that yes that this is unfortunate that this may/may not have ocurred but I agree with Christie. My father is the former children's pastor from River of Life Church and that Pastor Justin has known the Senior Pastors all his life... they are his in-laws. I think it is stupid- im pepper, that you should feel so strongly about sanctuary in a church. He doesnt claim to be reformed, he is. I used to attend his youth group and his family is so wonderful. Yes I would trust him with my children. This is something that took place 12 years ago when he was 18 and the girl is now 19 going through therapy. I trust him.
Im am more worried about the lives of his wife and two children. This must be difficullt for his children to understand, they are ages 5 and 3. I think that the recorded conversation that the girl claims to have, may have been something having to do with something like him asking her for forgiveness for doing this. Otherwise the information is faulty. - Think about this, why wait so long?
Report Abuse
Posted by: Bud at October 6, 2007 7:18 PM
