Virginia Beach Rock Church pastor seeks to have prostitution-related charges expunged
Rock Church International Pastor John Blanchard is seeking to have prostitution-related charges filed against him in 2021 expunged from his record, online court records show.
Blanchard filed the request in Chesterfield County Circuit Court’s civil division last month, the records show. No hearing date has been set.
The Virginia Beach megachurch pastor was one of 17 men arrested during an October 2021 police sting at a motel in Chesterfield County. Prosecutors charged him with solicitation of prostitution and using a vehicle to promote prostitution but later withdrew the charges.
In Virginia, a person who’s arrested and charged with a crime — but isn’t convicted — can seek to have their police and court records sealed from public view. The records aren’t destroyed, but can only be seen if a court grants permission. The process requires the person seeking the expungement to file a petition in Circuit Court. A judge then decides whether the request should be granted.
Investigators said Blanchard and the other men had been communicating online with an undercover officer posing as a teenage prostitute and arranged to meet the person at a motel. All were arrested after arriving at the motel and charged with soliciting prostitution. Those who drove there also were charged with using a vehicle to promote prostitution.
Cheserfield county prosecutors announced in October they were no longer pursuing their case against Blanchard, and asked a judge to withdraw both charges against him.
Charges against one other man arrested during the sting also were withdrawn, but the remaining cases were fully prosecuted, court records show. Chesterfield County Commonwealth’s Attorney Stacey Davenport has declined to explain why her office chose to abandon its case against Blanchard.
Blanchard was released on bond after his arrest and participated in a church service two days later. After news of the arrest was widely reported, Rock Church announced he would step down from his pastoral duties while the case was pending. He returned to the pulpit shortly after the charges were withdrawn.
Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
