More charges included in guilty plea for former Benton County youth pastor facing child sex crimes

Angele Latham, Jackson Sun
·2 min read
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An apparent mix-up in published court documents has led to a change in the plea deal for the former Benton County youth pastor and volleyball coach charged with child sex crimes.

As reported Monday by the Jackson Sun, Joshua Henley pleaded guilty in Federal Court to one count of sexual exploitation of children.

The Jackson Sun confirmed the single-count plea filing with the court after the documents were released.

Joshua Henley, seen here while serving as the pastor of Holladay Church of Christ in Holladay, Tennessee, preaching an online sermon on "consistent Christianity." “If you’re preaching something and teaching something, and you’re living a different way, that’s being inconsistent,” he said in the sermon.
Joshua Henley, seen here while serving as the pastor of Holladay Church of Christ in Holladay, Tennessee, preaching an online sermon on "consistent Christianity." “If you’re preaching something and teaching something, and you’re living a different way, that’s being inconsistent,” he said in the sermon.

However, the United States District Court Western District of Tennessee confirmed Tuesday that the plea filing has been updated, and Henley has pleaded guilty to eight total counts as part of the deal. These charges include:

  • Two counts of sexual exploitation of children

  • One count of transfer of obscene material to minors

  • Two additional counts of sexual exploitation of children

  • One count of coercion or enticement of minor female or male

  • One count of sexual exploitation and other abuse of children

  • One count of sexual exploitation of minors

Sentencing remains scheduled for Aug. 23. It was not immediately clear how much additional time in prison Henley could receive as part of the updated plea filing.

His original sentence called for between two-12 years in prison and a maximum $5,000 fine.

Henley, originally of Indiana, had been indicted on various child sex charges and previously faced a total of 10 charges, including four counts of producing child sexual exploitation material, and one count each of transporting and possessing such materials, as well as one count of transporting a minor interstate, or between states, to engage in criminal sexual activity and one count of sending obscene material to a minor under 16.

Henley previously served as a pastor of the Holladay Church of Christ in Holladay, Tennessee, as well as a girl’s basketball coach at Holladay Elementary School. He was serving as a youth pastor in Indiana up until last year.

Related: Former Benton County youth pastor, coach indicted on child sex charges

Investigators said Henley used “using three minors to create sexual abuse material” and transported a minor between states to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

He was arrested on June 18, 2021, on state charges that included three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and one count of aggravated sexual battery.

According to court documents, the victims ranged from 12-15 at the time of the alleged offenses.

The federal criminal complaint filed by FBI agents reported that a minor in Benton County confirmed that Henley had engaged in sexual contact with her on “multiple occasions."

Another minor, who was traveling with Henley at the time of his arrest, was interviewed and reported similar activity.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation into Henley, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details as they become available.

Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 731-343-5212, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: More charges included in guilty plea for former Benton County youth pastor