Pastor among 22 arrested in child sex sting operation

By Allie Norton
KCBY
September 15, 2016

http://kcby.com/politics/nation-and-world/pastor-among-22-arrested-in-child-sex-sting-operation

Pastor among 22 arrested in child sex sting operation Photo by Allie Norton

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WEAR) — Parishioners from the church neighboring First United Methodist Church of Pace circled around the building in prayer on Wednesday night. Hours earlier, news broke that the senior pastor was one of nearly two dozen men arrested in a child sex sting led by the Pensacola Police Department.

“It’s a major issue,” Chief David Alexander III said in a press conference. “It is something I believe the people need to know, that this is very serious and there are long term consequences when we don’t do what we can to pull these kind of people off the street.”

According to the police report, David D Hoppenjan, 52, contacted an undercover officer posing as a 14 year old boy through an “ecommerce” website profile. Hoppenjan and the officer communicated through writing where they agreed to oral sex at a Pensacola location. According to the report, Hoppenjan arrived, but was given a second location by the officer to meet the juvenile. Hoppenjan was taken into custody on charges of obscene communication and traveling to meet after using computer to lure child.

The 21 other suspects were arrested for similar circumstances during the five-day sting. At least one suspect traveled from Mobile, but it is possible some came from as far as Mississippi. Florida Attorney Bill Eddins said he applauds the hard work of the numerous law enforcement agencies, but adds it a little discouraging to see so many arrests.

"This undercover operation, because of the quality of the defendants, unfortunately is one of the most successful operations, undercover operations, that this association has done," Eddins said.

One parishioner of First United Methodist Church of Pace told Channel 3's Allie Norton that the recent news is concerning because the church has a child’s daycare.

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church said in a prepared statement that Hoppenjan is no longer a pastor with the church.

"As a church, we take any allegation of clergy misconduct very seriously," said Mary Catherine Phillips, a spokesperson for the Alabama-West Florida Conference.