Youth Pastor Teaches Teen to Sext?
A Cary man accused of exchanging “sexts” - nude photos via text message - with a 16-year-old was the girl’s youth pastor and acted as a spiritual mentor to gain her trust, according to search warrants returned Wednesday.
Josh Parker Wheeless, 28, was charged last week with first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and placed in the Wake County jail under a $250,000 bond.
Investigators say Wheeless, a married father of three girls, was once a minister of youth and outreach for Landmark Freewill Baptist Church in Cary. During his tenure there, he met the victim and the two formed a friendship. They communicated on Facebook and later began texting, the warrants allege.
“Josh was trying to be a ‘mentor’ or some type of spiritual leader to [the victim]. He used a lot of references about God and how he would pray for her,” the warrants state. “But as they continued to talk, Joshua started to act more like a boyfriend instead of a mentor.”
More: Warrants: Ex-Youth Pastor Acted as Mentor to ‘Groom’ Teen for Sexting :: WRAL.com