Titusville Youth Pastor Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Fox 35
August 28, 2014

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/26399229/titusville-youth-pastor-arrested-on-child-pornography-charges


The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Thursday arrested a Titusville man on 10 counts of possession of child pornography.

FDLE Agents began investigating Lucas Dillon Brandenburg in July after identifying a computer at his residence sharing images of child pornography. Brandenburg, 30, is a youth pastor for Building 418, a ministry of St. Gabriel Episcopal Church in Titusville.

Brandenburg was booked into the Brevard County Jail on $350,000 bond.

According to the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida Brandenberg has been terminated as an employee of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Titusville and is prohibited from being on all church property or having contact with any children.

"Before his employment at St. Gabriel's, Brandenburg was subject to a thorough background check and had fulfilled the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida's required Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse certificate program," said Joe Thoma, spokesman for the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. "Completion of the program is mandatory for all workers -- paid or volunteer -- who have contact with youth at diocesan organizations."

Thoma said that before Brandenburg's worked at St. Gabriel's, he served as a youth pastor in several other churches in Central Florida and taught English as a foreign language to elementary school students in South Korea.

"As Christians, a core tenet of our church is the protection and promotion of the dignity and care of all people, especially children and others who may be the most vulnerable and in need of special care," said the Right Reverend Gregory O. Brewer, diocesan bishop. "Our hearts go out to everyone involved in this matter."

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the FDLE Orlando Regional Operations Center at (800) 226-8521.