Jacob Ryan Barnett , a 34-year-old youth pastor from Virginia, was arrested on Wednesday (August 6) in North Carolina after an FBI investigation revealed he allegedly posed as a teenage boy to exploit young girls online. Known as "Pastor Jake" at Catawba Valley Baptist Church, Barnett is accused of using platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord to lure minors into sending explicit photos and videos.

According to a federal affidavit, Barnett, under the alias "Jodie Johnson," engaged in inappropriate conversations with a 15-year-old girl, identified as "M.V." in court documents. He allegedly pressured her to send explicit material , including videos filmed when she was 14. Barnett reportedly continued these exchanges while on the phone with his wife.

The investigation began after

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