Virginia youth pastor sent disgusting texts to young girls while posing as a teen
The 34-year-old, known to his church as 'Pastor Jake' is now behind bars, accused of posing as a boy to coax sexually explicit photos and videos from the girls.
At one point the perv pastor told an underage girl that it was 'time for her to see her first d***.'
Jacob Ryan Barnett, Associate Pastor at Catawba Valley Baptist Church, was arrested on Wednesday in North Carolina following a months-long FBI investigation that uncovered a disturbing digital trail of exploitation and manipulation.
According to a federal affidavit, Barnett used TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord to pose as a 17-year-old named 'Jodie Johnson,' messaging teen girls across the country and pressuring them into sending him explicit material.
The videos included footage they had recorded of themselves at the ages of 14 and 15.
One of the victims, identified in court documents as 'M.V.,' told investigators she believed she really was communicating with a teenage boy from Virginia.
But in reality, the number belonged to Barnett - a father, a pastor, and a man who just 11 days ago delivered a sermon titled 'The Story of Salvation.'
'While the charges against Mr. Barnett are just allegations at this point, the facts presented do serve as a reminder for all parents to be aware of what their children are doing online,' said U.S. Attorney C. Todd Gilbert.
'Our kids occupy a world where those seeking to harm them have countless avenues, like TikTok, Discord, Snapchat and others, to reach across vast distances directly into their bedrooms.'
The details in the affidavit are stomach-churning.
According to federal investigators, Barnett - as 'Jodie Johnson' - messaged M.V. in May via TikTok and quickly moved the conversation to text.
He repeatedly asked for pictures of her genitals and at one point told her it was 'time for her to see her first d**k.'
'I don't know if im readyyyy im only 15 and I barely know anything abt that whole topiccc,' the girl replied, according to the FBI affidavit.
Despite her hesitation, Barnett is accused of continuing to pressure her for material and eventually received a sexually explicit video that the girl admitted was filmed when she was just 14.
Investigators say Barnett was simultaneously on the phone with his wife during some of these exchanges.
On May 19, phone records showed that Barnett messaged the girl at 4:30pm, answered a call from his wife at 4:32pm, received a batch of photos from the teen at 4:33pm, and replied to her again at 4:34pm.
'In other words, within less than five minutes, Barnett messaged M.V., talked to his wife for a minute, and messaged M.V. again,' the affidavit notes.
Barnett also reportedly sent M.V. a photo of himself in boxers with the outline of his genitalia visible and asked when she last shaved her vagina.
She responded with another video, filmed at age 14, depicting herself masturbating.
On May 20, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an online tip from a concerned mother in Michigan who had discovered the texts on her daughter's phone.
After subpoenas to Verizon and Google, investigators linked the number behind the 'Jodie Johnson' alias to Jacob Barnett using his official Bethel Baptist Church email and tied to other accounts.
Barnett previously served five years at Bethel Baptist Church in Yorktown, Virginia, where he was head of the children's ministry.
He later moved to Catawba Valley Baptist Church, where he routinely interacted with youth and students.
A second victim has now also come forward.
According to the affidavit, Barnett communicated with another 15-year-old girl on Snapchat using the usernames 'duh_jodie' and 'jodie_j1234.'
Like the first alleged victim he again told her it was 'time to see her first d**k' and encouraged her to send sexually explicit images.
He reportedly described in graphic terms how he would have sex with her and instructed her on how to masturbate.
Though many of the files the girl sent were encrypted or deleted, the FBI concluded based on context that they were explicit in nature.
Barnett's TikTok account reportedly followed 'thousands of minor girls,' investigators said.
The case has stunned the conservative church community in southwest Virginia, where Barnett served as the Associate Pastor of Students & Mobilization.
The church's granite monument bearing the Ten Commandments still stands outside its Troutville building, but Pastor Jake's name has vanished from its website.
Barnett is currently pursuing a master's degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and previously graduated from The College at Southeastern in 2018.
His wife, Cayla Barnett, is a graduate of Liberty University, which has faced its own scandals related to sex abuse in recent years.
The couple's church bio says they enjoy 'visiting historical places such as the Battlefields of Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg,' and that Barnett 'loves teaching the next generation about the truths of the Bible.'
'Together, [Jake and his wife] enjoy visiting historical places such as the Battlefields of Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg… and spending time with family.'
Less than two weeks ago on Sunday July 27, Barnett delivered a sermon in which he reportedly referenced the importance of 'settling with your accuser.'
He was arrested three days later. Before his arrest, Barnett briefly answered a phone call from The Independent and claimed to be 'totally confused' about the allegations and refusing to elaborate.
Barnett faces federal charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.
He is scheduled to appear in US District Court in Roanoke early next week.
'The heinous crimes Barnett is charged with are what keep parents up at night,' said Ann Busby, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Richmond Division.
'Educating our kids and communities about the threats posed by faceless, online personas is crucial to maintaining their safety. Working with our partners, FBI Richmond will bring the full weight of the justice system on anyone who attempts to harm our children.
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