The 24-year-old male had passed two background checks before he began youth volunteer work.

A youth leader at a Texas megachurch has been arrested for allegedly inducing young girls to send him explicit inappropriate images.

Prosecution documents in Abilene, Texas, state that 24-year-old Charles Goff admitted to police that he went on social media and solicited nude photos from girls aged 14 and 15. They also allege that Goff met with a fellow church member and admitted his wrongdoing.

Goff was a youth volunteer at Beltway Park Church, a large baptist megachurch in Abilene in north central Texas with two campuses in the city and a congregation of nearly 5,000 people every week.

  • Grass@sh.itjust.works
    2·
    12 hours ago

    They also have a volunteer position with many potential victims in the first place…

    I also remember when I was a kid playing tag hide and seek with my cousins I chased them into one room but they suddenly stopped to look up at the figurines and said “it’s mary…” and didn’t respond to anything for 3-5 minutes. That was probably the first time I ever felt scared of the church.

    • MerrySkeptic@sh.itjust.works
      6·
      11 hours ago

      I’m not sure what difference it makes here that it was a volunteer position. There was a background check (two, actually) just like there would have been if it was a paid position. Schools often use volunteers too to read to kids or tutor after school, etc.

      I’m not saying churches are always this responsible. I’m saying we should applaud the ones that take steps to prevent this and work with law enforcement when those steps fail