Macon man, identified as youth pastor, arrested in child porn case
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office says the investigation began in Pennsylvania and led to a suspect in Middle Georgia.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Macon man identified as a youth pastor at a Monroe County church has been arrested in connection with a child pornography investigation out of Pennsylvania, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
In an email Tuesday, sheriff’s office spokesperson Anna Watkins said Pennsylvania State Police contacted the sheriff’s office after tracing downloads of suspected child sexual abuse material to the area of Mt. Zion Baptist Church off Rivoli Road.
Deputies identified the suspect as 30-year-old John Tyler Moreland of Macon, who Watkins said was employed as a youth pastor at the church.
According to the sheriff’s office, arrest warrants were issued in Pennsylvania, and Moreland was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service in Houston County.
Houston County Jail records show Moreland was arrested Friday and is being held without bond while awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is now working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether any crimes were committed in Georgia. Search warrants have been obtained for electronic devices in both Monroe and Bibb counties.
