Florida youth pastor accused of sexting 15-year-old girl

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BELLEVIEW, Fla. – A Florida youth pastor is accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a 15-year-old girl in his youth group, officials with the Marion County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies arrested Christopher Lee Patrick, 30, on Tuesday after a parent told a Marion County high school resource officer that a 15-year-old girl had inappropriate messages on her phone from Patrick, News4Jax sister station WKMG reports

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A witness told deputies that they recognized the phone number because Patrick, who is a youth pastor at Grace Baptist Church, would pick up the 15-year-old victim and other girls and drive them to church.

Patrick and his wife are the junior high youth leaders at the Belleview church, according to the Grace Baptist Church Facebook page.

Text messages from Patrick to the girl were graphic in nature and discussed sexual encounters, deputies said. The suspect discussed things he wanted to do to the 15-year-old "the next time we are alone."

Several photos of a man's penis were sent to the girl, deputies found in text messages.

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