ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - A youth pastor pleaded guilty Monday, December 9 in a case involving attempted child sex crimes, according to court records.

Former youth pastor at Catawba Valley Baptist Church Jacob Ryan Barnett, 34, was arrested by FBI agents in North Carolina August 6, 2025 on charges of solicitation of sexual material from minors.

The FBI received a tip that Barnett had attempted to groom a 15-year-old girl living in Michigan. Investigators discovered on Sunday, May 18, 2025, the 15-year-old girl received a message that appeared to belong to a teen boy who called himself, “Jodie Johnson”, according to court records.

Barnett faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum punishment of life.

WDBJ7 has not received information on his sentencing date.

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