All Saints Lutheran Church's Pastor Helker Arrested on Suspicion of Possessing Child Pornography

By Scott Wente
South Washington County Bulletin
October 27, 2016

http://www.swcbulletin.com/news/crime-and-courts/4146362-all-saints-lutheran-churchs-pastor-helker-arrested-suspicion

Authorities executed a search warrant at All Saints Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove before arresting one of its pastors, William Helker, on suspicion of possessing child pornography. Helker's home also was searched by authorities. (Bulletin file photo)

William Leonard Helker, a pastor at All Saints Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove, was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography.

Helker

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced Thursday that Helker was arrested Wednesday at his home in Pine City and booked at the Pine County jail. Formal criminal charges are pending, according to the BCA.

A jail spokeswoman said Helker was being held without bail; a court date had not been set.

BCA agents with the Internet Crimes AGainst Children Task Force made the arrest after executing search warrants at Helker’s home and at All Saints Lutheran, on Belden Boulevard in Cottage Grove. The warrants were executed with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Pine County Sheriff’s Office, according to the BCA.

Helker is listed as an associate pastor on the All Saints website. The church had no comment Thursday but posted a statement on its website that said Helker was placed on administrative leave.

"We are concerned and ask prayers for all affected and will cooperate fully with law enforcement," the statement read. "We are committed to providing safe spaces for all children and youth at All Saints and in the community."