The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.
Daniel Lamppin, a volunteer youth pastor at Connection Church in Kissimmee, Florida, stands accused of sexually abusing two minor girls under his care.
A foster parent in St. Cloud is being accused of sexually abusing two girls who had been in his care.
On Wednesday, 40-year-old Daniel Lamppin made his first court appearance where a judge gave him no bond and ordered he not discuss the case with his wife or children who are “potential witnesses.”
Lamppin is facing 24 counts of sexual battery by a custodian, according to the Osceola County sheriff.
The sheriff said Lamppin worked as a manager at Chick-fil-A on South Orange Blossom Trail and as a volunteer youth pastor at Connection Church on Generation Point in Kissimmee.
A pastor with the church says Lamppin was a member, but did not serve as a volunteer youth pastor.
“It’s sad and it’s sickening,” Osceola County Sheriff Marco Lopez said, describing what Lamppin is accused of.
Lopez said they started investigating Lamppin in November 2024.
“The victim now is a 15-year-old who disclosed being sexually battered from age 6 to 8 years old by her foster parent, Daniel Lamppin,” Lopez said.
The sheriff said the victim accused Lamppin of sexually abusing her on three separate times and physically abusing her once.
While investigating this case, the sheriff said another alleged victim was found. A woman who is now an adult, but was a foster child under Lamppin’s care.
“The family disclosed he began abusing her within days of moving into the home. The sexual abuse started at the age of 16 and continued for years,” Lopez said.
The sheriff said Lamppin is facing two dozen counts of sexual battery by a custodian. He was walked out of the sheriff’s office in handcuffs Tuesday to be taken to jail.
When asked if he had done what he’s accused of, all Lamppin said was, “No.”
Despite his claim of innocence, the sheriff said that because of his foster parenting and his work, they’re concerned there could be more victims out there.
“Based on his contact with these children at the time and through his work, foster care, and as a youth pastor, there’s a concern that there could be additional victims. There is an open investigation, and we definitely want other people to come forward,” Lopez said.
The church relased the following statement:
The Connection Church acknowledges that an investigation involving allegations related to Daniel Lamppin is currently underway. We want to assure our congregation and the broader community that The Connection Church is fully cooperating with all authorities involved in this process and have already spoken to the lead investigator on this case. For clarity, Daniel Lamppin is not a volunteer youth pastor at the Connection Church.
Our priority remains the well-being of everyone connected to our church community. We are committed to fostering a safe, accountable, and Christ-honoring environment for worship, service, and fellowship.
We ask for your prayers during this time—for those directly impacted, for our church leadership, and for the truth to prevail.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
