Garrett Biggerstaff was the pastor of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Fairfield and a Trump supporter. He is also charged with grooming children.
An investigation began when a youth came to the police with an account of sexual exploitation. They executed a search warrant on Biggerstaff’s home and electronic devices where they found communications with a second victim as well.
Grooming involves illicit and sexually improper communications over electronic devices and Biggerstaff is accused of sending these types of communications to the juvenile victims. He was arrested and charged with two counts of child grooming.
He was suspended by the church and subsequently resigned. He also resigned from his job as athletic director at Spring Garden Consolidated Community School in November.
Jury selection begins June 6, 2023.
He pled guilty to one of the two cases in September 2023. In October, 2023, he was sentenced to three years in prison.
- KFVS: Child grooming investigation leads to arrest of McLeansboro man
- Sentinel: Trial dates set in Biggerstaff grooming case
- WMIX: Former Pastor, Athletic Director pleads guilty in Child Grooming Case.
- Sentinel: Biggerstaff sentenced to three years in grooming case
January 9, 2023