Leo Parker, pastor of The Emerge Church in Palatka, Florida, stands accused of sexual misconduct with a child.
A Palatka pastor has been arrested for having a “sexual relationship” with a child “between 12 and 18” years old, according to the Palatka Police Department.
Leo Alfonzo Parker, 42, was arrested Wednesday, PPD said. He was identified as a pastor at an East Palatka church. Neighbors tell First Coast News he works at Emerge Church — his picture is also on their social media.
Both sides of the street where Parker lives were cut off by police tape Wednesday night. Neighbors who were in the area said they were shocked and that Parker was well-liked.
It wasn’t until police taped off her street that she realized that pastor was her neighbor, Leo Alfonzo Parker.
“It’s kind of scary because I have two kids. Very scary actually,” Hansford said. “It’s pretty scary that, and there’s a school right across the street as well so that’s also really scary.”
Police say they responded to a call last Thursday where someone reported an “inappropriate relationship between a minor child and an adult male” who was later identified as Parker; they then discovered he was involved in a relationship for an “extended period of time.”
A warrant for Parker’s arrest on charges of sexual battery with a minor was issued Wednesday. He surrendered to detectives.
He is being held on bond for $100,000 at Putnam County Jail.
Police say the investigation is active. Parents are asked to contact the Palatka Police Department if they think there could have been inappropriate contact between Parker and their child.
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.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 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.
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