JACKSON, Tenn. — A Jackson youth pastor has been arrested on rape prices.
Based on reserving data from the Madison County jail, 39-year-old Ryan McElrath was booked into the jail round 5:48 p.m. on Tuesday.
Jackson Police Division’s on-line Police To Citizen useful resource reveals that McElrath was arrested at a residence on Willow Inexperienced Drive, with prices listed as sexual battery by an authority determine, statutory rape, and statutory rape by an authority determine – forcible rape.
In a social media submit made by Fellowship Bible Church previous to his arrest — which is now not accessible — McElrath is described as a “high school pastor.” On the time of this report, the church additionally has a number of movies on their web site the place McElrath could be seen as a featured speaker.
McElrath additionally hosted a religion-based podcast with episodes starting from October 2021 – November 2023. The podcast’s description states: “Here, at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, TN, we are starting our very first Family Podcast in which we are going to create space for families to have great conversations with their kids and have fun at the same time!”
We reached out to Fellowship Bible Church for an announcement, who shared the next:
Ryan McElrath is now not employed at Fellowship as a result of felony prices filed June 11. Inside hours of the allegations, the matter was investigated, Ryan admitted to the violation, and was terminated. The church instantly supported the sufferer in reporting the allegations to native legislation enforcement, and notified dad and mom and college students. The church is cooperating absolutely with native authorities, and is partaking an exterior company to audit church insurance policies and procedures in addition to present steering on continued look after the sufferer and the church. Our precedence continues to be the privateness and well-being of the sufferer, the sufferer’s household, our college students and their dad and mom.
“As a church community we are absolutely devastated by this. And, as a parent, I share in our God’s outrage and grief when the innocent are harmed. We are acting in cooperation with law enforcement in caring for the victim and the victim’s family.” Eugene Brandt, Lead Pastor Fellowship
Data accessible on-line point out McElrath has since bonded out of custody.
We have now reached out to the Jackson Police Division for extra particulars, nevertheless no additional data has been shared at the moment.
We’re additionally working to find out when McElrath could seem in court docket relating to these prices.
Stick with us on-air and on-line as we’ll present an replace as soon as further data turns into accessible.
For extra native crime tales, click on right here.
“Well bless their hearts.”
