CATAWBA, Va. (BP) – Jacob Barnett, a 34-year-old former youth pastor at Catawba Valley Baptist Church, has been arrested and charged with exploiting minors online, according to authorities.
The FBI took Barnett into custody on August 6 in North Carolina. He remains in the Catawba County Detention Center without bond. His arrest followed a May 18 tip that led investigators to a TikTok account posing as a teen named “Jodie Johnson.”
The account contacted a 15-year-old girl in Michigan, eventually convincing her to send a sexually explicit video. Further investigation revealed that Barnett was operating the account. Phone records confirmed his identity and involvement.
According to the FBI, Barnett used multiple social media platforms—including Snapchat and Discord—to pose as a teenage boy and solicit explicit material from underage girls. His TikTok account followed thousands of young female users.
Catawba Valley Baptist Church released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the allegations.
“We are deeply grieved by these allegations. Our prayers are with anyone who may have been impacted… We continue to cooperate with authorities,” the statement read.
Barnett had preached at the church as recently as July 27, delivering a sermon titled “Not Peace, but Division” from Luke 12:49-59.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.
