A former leader of a gay conversion ministry, who is married and has kids, found himself in a police sting after allegedly trying to engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old boy, as confirmed by law enforcement.
Alan Chambers, 54, reportedly sent explicit messages and attempted to arrange a meet-up with an undercover officer posing as a teenager via Snapchat and Telegram, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
“Detectives intervened before any harm could come to the child,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Chambers was arrested on May 18 and faced charges related to attempting to meet a minor for sexual reasons.
Records indicate that between February and May, he sent inappropriate pictures, including a photo of his torso and genitals, along with another of his face. He made multiple references to wanting to meet for sex and even suggested taking an Uber to reach the supposed teen.
Messages exchanged included phrases about “forbidden love,” and he expressed a strong desire for the boy, saying he wanted him “very much.”
Interestingly, he also raised questions about the ethical implications of his actions, asking, “Is it wrong to want to have sex with a 14-year-old?” in messages to the undercover officer.
Chambers previously served as president of Exodus International, a now-defunct ministry that claimed to be able to “cure” homosexuality, from 2001 until the organization was disbanded in 2013. After shutting it down, he apologized to the LGBTQ community for the pain caused over the years.
Additionally, investigators found messages in which he solicited sex from male sex workers, as noted in the affidavit.
He was apprehended during a traffic stop and admitted to communicating with a 14-year-old on Snapchat.
Chambers, who resides in Winter Park with his wife and children, is charged with solicitation of a minor via computer, transmission of harmful material to minors, and improper use of a communication device.
After posting a $15,000 bail, he is prohibited from contacting anyone under 18, has been instructed not to use social media, and is limited to internet access only for work-related purposes.
