| Former Youth Minister Arrested for Sex with 15-year-old
Fox 13
March 10, 2015
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/28354676/former-youth-minister-arrested-for-sex-with-15-year-old
A former church youth minister has been arrested for having sex with a 15-year-old member of a local congregation.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested 30-year-old Phillip Kendrick II Tuesday on three counts of lewd battery and other charges after the current pastor of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church called and reported the relationship.
Investigators learned Kendrick and the young girl had sex at least three times and exchanged nude photos of one another over a course of three months, between October of 2014 and January of 2015.
Deputies said the church pastor told them that Kendrick stopped serving as a youth minister in October, but he still attended the church.
According to detectives, Kendrick met the 15-year-old victim in a church youth group during his time as a youth minister about four years ago.
The teen said she initially viewed Kendrick as a trusted source of support, but that over the years, their relationship transitioned to more of a personal friendship.
Then, in October of last year, the teen said Phillip confessed to having "strong feelings" for her.
Deputies say Kendrick admitted to the relationship, and that both of them called the sex consensual.
In addition to the lewd battery charges, Kendrick faces one count of transmitting material harmful to a minor and another for using a two-way communications device to commit felony.
He's been booked at the Polk County jail without bond.
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