Pastor Reacts to Former Youth Minister's Arrest in Sting

By Eric Onyechefule
Newswest 9
June 10, 2016

http://www.newswest9.com/story/32189911/pastor-reacts-to-former-youth-minister-arrest-after-sting

Pastor of the church reacted to the news a former youth minister's involvment in online sting (Source: KWES)

On Thursday, Dr. Weeks DuBose pastor, of the church where Matthew Holman was the youth minister described how hard the arrest has been on his church who has 60 congregants and over a dozen kids who attend.

"Matthew Holman who has been an employee of the church, a youth minister since mid-January, was dismissed from his position as of Sunday morning June 5th," said DuBose.

DuBose said Holman was in charge of the youth programs that were being run at the church. He added they do their due diligence on potential employees including Matt who he's known since he was a little kid.

"We do background checks on our employees. Matthew was known to us," said DuBose.

Holman was one of the six men arrested after a two day sting where authorities said they tried solicit sex from minors.

Casey Matthews, Texas Department of Safety Region 4 Commander said, "The sexual exploitation of a child is a deplorable crime and a threat to the safety of our community. DPS is committed to pursuing these criminals who target our vulnerable children as their victims here in the Permian Basin."

DuBose added the church will look to move past this.

"We are a family at Westwood and we are dealing with this situation as a family to promote healing," said Dubose.

DuBose told NewsWest 9, there were never any incidents or complaints against Holman during his time at the church. Holman was also a former employee of Lubbock Cooper ISD. The six men are facing state felony charges of online solicitation of a minor.