CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WTKR) -- A pastor who volunteered to be the chaplain for a Virginia police department has been arrested, accused of exposing himself online to someone he thought was an underage girl.
Chesapeake police said Haden Conrad, the pastor of the Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist Church, showed his penis to who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. It was actually a Spotsylvania sheriff's deputy.
Jeff Pearce, a spokesperson for the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office, said Conrad met the deputy in a chat room online as part of the cybercrimes unit's sting operation.
“Our unit over the past year has been quite successful in finding child sexual predators and online pornographers,” Pearce said. "Anytime we encounter anyone who's operating this type of online activity, it certainly disappoints me…"
Authorities searched Conrad's home and his church office for evidence.
According to court documents, Conrad has been the pastor of Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist Church for two years. He is married with two foster children and lived in Georgia before moving here two years ago. He also used to work as a chaplain for the Chesapeake Police Department.
The 32-year-old now faces charges for computer solicitation of a child under 15.
Conrad, who remains in jail without bond, is scheduled to appear in court next week.
