JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A St. Johns County mother said she wants justice after a youth leader in a Jacksonville church, who also worked as a security guard and coach at Westview PK-8, was accused of sexually abusing her son and paying him “hush” money.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested DeShawn Collier, 25, on Sunday on allegations of lewd/lascivious behavior with a person 12 or older but less than 16 years of age.
Westview PK-8 Principal Jamie Griffin notified school families of the arrest in a message shared with the community on Monday.
Griffin made it clear that Collier’s accusations do not involve a student at the school or relate to his position or duties at the school.
According to the arrest report, the teen told police that he met Collier at church two years ago, and they started communicating on Instagram.
The teen said inappropriate messages began to be shared using the app’s vanishing mode, where messages would automatically disappear in the chat after being sent.
Around August 2025, the conversation started to become sexual, the report said.
Investigators said the teen met Collier at UF Health North to have sex in a restroom while his mother was admitted for an illness. The teen also told investigators that Collier offered him $180, used as “hush” money, which was paid at a later date.
“I need to know, you took my child’s innocence,” the alleged victim’s mother said. “You took it, you stripped that from him.”
(Editor’s Note: News4JAX is not naming the mother of the child to protect her son’s identity)
She said that over time, she noticed a change in her son’s behavior. She said she always asked her kids if they were being touched inappropriately, but her son would be timid.
“He didn’t want to hug like he used to hug…If you try to touch him or embrace him, or different conversations would make him shut down,” she said. “When I would ask him those questions, he would shut down and go in his room, and I wouldn’t hear him. I’m like, ‘Are you okay?’ And he always looks down at times, and when it was different, a mother knows.”
She said she prayed for weeks asking for everything to be revealed to her.
“Two weeks later, my son comes and tells me, it’s been weighing heavy on him and he just had to get it off,” she said.
The mother said her son is now going through counseling.
She said it’s important for parents to stick together and protect their children from abuse.
“Be there for your kids, and even to these children out here, go tell your parents, come forward, don’t hide it, that is not okay for grown people. We’re making sure these people that are nasty are put behind bars,” she said.
Collier will not work at any Duval County Public School during the ongoing criminal and internal investigation. DCPS said it will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and follow all applicable district policies and procedures.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority,” Griffin said.
When interviewed by JSO, Collier said he communicated with the teen on Instagram about different singing engagements, and the conversations turned sexual, according to his arrest report. He said the conversations escalated between him and the teen over time, which led to the “inappropriate relationship,” it says in the report. JSO said Collier told investigators he knew the relationship was inappropriate and said he was “at a low point in his life.”
According to JSO, Collier admitted to sending the teen money but said it was for “purchasing things on Shein.”
Collier was linked with Priority Life Ministries in Jacksonville, and it issued a statement to News4JAX following Collier’s arrest.
“Priority Life Ministries is aware of the serious allegations involving Deshawn Collier. We do not condone, excuse, or agree with any form of inappropriate or unlawful conduct involving a minor,” the church said in an emailed statement. “We respect the legal process and will allow law enforcement and the courts to conduct a thorough investigation and determine the facts. Every person is entitled to due process and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Our prayers are with the young man and the entire family affected by this situation. We sincerely hope the young person receives the counseling, support, care, and protection needed during this difficult time.
For clarity, Deshawn Collier is not, and has never been, an ordained or licensed minister of Priority Life Ministries. He was being observed and evaluated to determine whether his life, conduct, and character met the biblical qualifications required for ministerial office. No ordination or ministerial license was granted.
Because this matter involves a minor and an active legal investigation, Priority Life Ministries will not offer further comments regarding the specific allegations at this time. We remain committed to truth, accountability, compassion, the protection of children, and the standards established by the Word of God.”
News4JAX asked JSO if it was looking into the possibility of other victims, and it said on Monday it did not have any additional information at this time.
Collier remains in JSO’s custody, held on a $217,000 bond. His next court date is set for Sept. 22.
Jail records showed an additional charge of lewd/lacivious behavior with a person between 12 and 16 years old was added on Monday. It was not immediately clear if that charge was related to the same alleged victim or someone else.
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