Caleb Steven Roberts, 26 (Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)
Nearly three months after being confronted at a Palatka drug store, a former Putnam County youth pastor was arrested Wednesday in Central Florida amid accusations of communicating with someone he thought was a child and trying to meet the supposed minor in person.
Caleb Steven Roberts, who resides in Marion County but pastored the youth at Victory Church in East Palatka, is charged with traveling to meet a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, transmission of harmful materials to minors by an electronic device, and soliciting a child or a person who is believed to be a child for unlawful sexual conduct using a computer or electronic device, according to the Putnam County arrest warrant.
The warrant states Roberts, 26, must have no unsupervised contact with minors.
On March 30, the vigilante investigative group Operation 17:2 confronted Roberts in CVS, 201 State Road 19 in Palatka, accusing the suspect of traveling to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, according to the group’s Facebook page.
Matt Newcomb, Palatka’s assistant police chief, said that until Operation 17:2 officials met Roberts, the suspect wasn’t on the Palatka Police Department’s radar, given that he lives in Marion County. However, Newcomb said, that changed after the vigilante group’s encounter with Roberts.
“There was not an ongoing investigation by our agency,” he said. “It took us some time to be able to get all the information (after our investigation began).”
Detectives needed to verify all the evidence Operation 17:2 gathered and get enough probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for Roberts, Newcomb said.
Circuit Judge Alicia Washington, who is based in Putnam County, signed the arrest warrant June 9.
Roberts was arrested at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the AMC Highwoods 20 movie theater, 18002 Highwoods Preserve Parkway in Tampa, and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail at 11:54 a.m., according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
He was released on $55,000 bond at 12:16 a.m. Thursday, according to Hillsborough County records.
Operation 17:2’s confrontation in March led to the suspect’s parents – Victory Church Pastor Steve Roberts and his wife, Angie Roberts – stepping down from their leadership roles at the church, according to a Facebook post from the church on April 27.
“We want to state plainly that there is no place in the Body of Christ for sexual misconduct or the abuse of trust in any form,” the church’s Facebook post stated. “Such actions are contrary to the character of Christ and inconsistent with the values we are called to uphold as His church.
“Our commitment remains to be a safe, Christ-centered community marked by truth, accountability, compassion, and care. We are prayerfully reviewing our practices and leadership processes to strengthen safeguards and ensure those who serve are equipped to care for and protect others well.”
The church’s leadership team said their hearts are with anyone who has been affected by the accusations against Caleb Roberts.
“To our community, we humbly acknowledge the pain this has caused and ask for the opportunity, with the Lord’s help, to rebuild trust,” church officials wrote on Facebook. “It remains our desire to reflect Christ faithfully and to walk in truth, humility, and love.”