Former Newton County youth pastor pleads guilty to child pornography violation

12 News Now
June 03, 2014

http://www.12newsnow.com/story/25683996/newton-county-former-youth-pastor-guilty-of-child-pornography-violation

A 23-year-old former youth pastor Tuesday pleaded guilty to production of child pornography.

According to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney John M. Bales,  Trevion Lechay Ethridge, of Newton, entered the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.

The news release says information presented in court, from November 2012 to March 2013, shows that while Ethridge was the youth pastor at a Newton County church, he persuaded a minor to video and photograph pornographic images and to send the pornography to Ethridge via smart phone. 

Ethridge was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 3, 2013.  Trial began in this case on May 12, 2014 and was recessed after two days.  Trial resumed on June 3, 2014, at which time Ethridge changed his plea to guilty and under oath, admitted to sending the minor pornographic images and videos of himself and enticing the minor to send pornographic images and videos in return.

Ethridge faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison.  A sentencing date has not been set.
       
This case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Newton Police Department and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall L. Fluke and Lauren Gaston. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.