Lutheran Pastor Jailed on Suspicion of Child Porn Charges

A Lutheran pastor from central Minnesota has been arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agents on Wednesday arrested William Leonard Helker, 47, at his home in Pine City. Helker was arrested without incident and booked into the Pine County Jail on suspicion of possessing pornography involving minors, according to a news release.

BCA agents with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested Helker following the execution of search warrants at Helker’s Pine City residence and at All Saints Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove, where Helker is a pastor, according to authorities.

The warrants were executed with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Pine County Sheriff’s Office. The BCA’s investigation is active and ongoing. Authorities say that charges in this case are pending.

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