A Plant City youth group volunteer faces child porn charges.
Polk deputies arrested 28-year-old Jay Bloodworth at his Lakeland home.
According to the sheriff’s office, concerned members at Church of the Rock came forward and led investigators to images on a shared church computer.
Deputies said Bloodworth told them he works with 30 to 40 children in his position and that he uses social media to chat with others interested in trading child pornography.
Jeffrey S. Howell, Senior Pastor Church On The Rock, released the following statement Thursday afternoon;
“We are shocked and deeply grieved but thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ that He brought this into the light. The information received from law enforcement officials leads us to believe that four images were inadvertently downloaded from a personal mobile device belonging to Jay Bloodworth when it was tethered to a church computer. This computer did not have internet access and we are told that the images were acquired in Polk County. None of the images were of children who attended the church. We have been told that there is no reason to suspect that anything else occurred at the facility. We perform background checks and conduct children’s safety training with every children’s ministry worker whether staff or volunteer. We will continue to cooperate with Law Enforcement and we will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety of our children. As this is an ongoing investigation, we have no other comments at this time. Thank you for your prayers and concern.”
Bloodworth faces two counts of possession of child pornography. Deputies say more charges could be coming.