Ryan Scott Walsh was a youth pastor at Gulf Breeze Methodist Church in Florida. Parents of a 13-year-old girl found inappropriate texts on her phone. They went to the church pastor who chose to handle it internally at first, until the church learned Walsh had also touched the child. Then the church went to the police.
Walsh was arrested and charged with sexual lewd and lascivious behavior involving a minor over 12 and under 18 years old, transmitting obscene material to a minor and use of a computer to solicit or seduce a child.
He was sentenced to 176 months, nearly 15 years, in October, 2022. The family is suing the church for not doing enough to safeguard their child.
- Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Breeze Methodist Church youth director arrested on child sex charges
- WEAR TV: Former Gulf Breeze church youth director sentenced to nearly 15 years prison
- Only Sky: After Methodist pastor jailed for sexual assault, victim’s family sues church
Pensacola, Florida · Tuesday, February 11, 2020