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  Police: Former Youth Pastor Faces Child Porn Charges

Fox 35

December 27, 2008

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=8149181&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

DELTONA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- Detectives with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office say a former youth pastor and missionary from Deltona is facing federal charges after investigators found thousands of images of child pornography on the man's computer.

Investigators wrapped up an eight-month investigation last week with the indictment of Joel Price, 36, on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

Price first came under suspicion back in April, when a Martin County Sheriff's investigator, who also is a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, discovered child pornography being openly shared over the Internet.

"He became aware of some child porn being shared over the internet, traced that down to the computer's IP address to a residence in Deltona, and that's when the case was turned over to our agency," said Gary Davidson with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

A search warrant was obtained in May to search Price's home, where investigators seized computer containing more than 6,000 pictures and approximately 250 video clips depicting children engaged in sexual activity.

Investigators believe Price downloaded all of the images from the Internet and did not have sexual contact with any children or take any of the pictures.

Investigators say Price told them he had resigned from a position as a youth pastor with the New Tribes Mission, the international, evangelical Christian mission organization based in Sanford. Price openly admitted during an interview with Sheriff's investigators to being obsessed with child pornography.

"He realized that he needed some help and counseling, and that there are consequences to his actions. He seemed to be relieved to be caught," said Davidson.

The investigation resulted in a federal indictment against Price, who was arrested on December 18 in Osteen and transported to the Federal Courthouse in Orlando. Following processing by the U.S. Marshals Service, a judge set Prices bond at $50,000.

 
 

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