Police say the Mississippi pastor was arrested on several child sex offences.
Christopher Willett, pastor of Crystal Springs' first Presbyterian church, was arrested Tuesday.
After the investigation, police reportedly executed a search warrant regarding Willett's vehicle, laptop, cell phone and home.
Crystal Springs Police Chief Robert Thomas revealed how and why law enforcement deemed necessary to seduce pastors to city hall as a safety precaution.
Clarion – Lady “Thomas said police arrested Willett on Tuesday and asked him to come to City Hall pretending to discuss other matters. This approach was deemed necessary for safety precautions due to the known fact that Willett had a firearm at home.”
Regarding Willett's arrest, Thomas said, “There was no fight or rejection… There was no struggle. We handcuffed him, took him to the police station and placed him in the interrogation room where he refused to speak.”
Willett, an appointed pastor of the American Presbyterian Church, is now housed in Copia County Jail without being held.
According to WAPT-TVWillett was charged with legal rape, sexual battery, unnatural sex, human seduction and child pornography.
On March 7, the suspect female victim went to Crystal Springs Police Station with a psychologist who was a friend of the victim's family.
Secretary Thomas told investigators that the victim told investigators that Willett had abused her.
Thomas told Clarion Leisure that child sexual abuse allegations began when he was 15 years old. The victim is currently 19 years old.
After the investigation, police reportedly executed a search warrant regarding Willett's vehicle, laptop, cell phone and home.
Law enforcement interviewed the alleged victim for a second time for about 90 minutes, detailing the alleged victim's charges of child sexual abuse against the pastor. Shortly after the interview, police filed a child sex crime charge against Willett.
Thomas pointed out that the accusations were “accusations only,” but he also emphasized that “the evidence we have against him is pretty important.”
Clarion-Ledger said he reached out to determine whether Willett was still employed at the church, but there was no timely response.
Willett is still featured in the first Presbyterian Church Website Teach the elders as pastors. His bio at the First Presbyterian Church website in Crystal Springs I'll read: “Before moving to Crystal Springs in October 2020, I served in the office of an idyllic intern and assistant pastor at Pinewood Presbyterian Church in Middleburg, Florida for five years.
The church site adds, “Chris won BS for interdisciplinary studies (humanities, communications and business management) at New York Institute of Technology and a master's degree in seminary from Reform Seminary in Orlando.”
Bio also says Willett married his wife Jennifer in 2000. They have a daughter together.
“When he doesn't study for preaching, plan ministries, or work around the church or home, he enjoys watching shows with his wife, playing board and video games with his daughter, reading (fiction, comics, non-fiction), 'Star Wars' and being a stormtrooper,” the church page says of Willett.
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