Youth Pastor Accused Of Sexually Battering Child

Tampa, FL — A 26-year-old youth pastor from Tampa faces a number of criminal charges after the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says he engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor.

According to the sheriff’s office, Samuel Armand Sutter was charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim age 12 to 16 and five counts of sexual battery on Saturday.

Deputies say Sutter began a sexual relationship with the girl in October 2015.

“The relationship began as he was the youth pastor at the church the victim attends and escalated to numerous sexual encounters,” an email from the sheriff’s office said.

The girl told her mother about the relationship after her mom found sexual pictures, videos and texts that had been exchanged between Sutter and the girl, the agency said.

“The sexual encounters occurred primarily at the defendant's residence, but also occurred twice at the ladies’ restroom located at Openwater Church at 15612 Race Track Road,” the email said.

No further information is available at this time.

Image via Shutterstock