BELLEVIEW, Fla. — A Belleview youth pastor sent sexually explicit text messages to a 15-year-old girl in his youth program, Marion County deputies say.

• Youth pastor in Marion County charged with obscene communication
• Detectives: He sent sexually explicit messages to 15-year-old girl
• Parent came to school resource officer about "Pastor Chris," deputies say

Christopher Patrick, 30, was arrested Tuesday and charged with using a computer to seduce, solicit and lure a child, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Patrick is a youth pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Belleview.

Sheriff's detectives said Patrick, known as "Pastor Chris," came to their attention when a parent of a child in the youth program reported to a school resource officer at an undisclosed local high school that Patrick was sending inappropriate texts and pictures to another child in the group.

When detectives got the 15-year-old girl's phone records, they said they found sexually explicit messages from Patrick, as well as messages that instructed the girl to deny their conversations.

Patrick also denied knowledge of the text messages to detectives, they said.

Patrick is also charged with transmitting information harmful to minors. 

Detectives urge anyone who suspects suspicious activity between Patrick and their child to contact them at 352-368-3535.