Henryetta Pastor Arrested For Sexting Teenage Girl

NewsOn6.com

HENRYETTA, Oklahoma -- A 36-year-old Henryetta minister has been arrested on complaints of sexting a minor girl after the two attended a church camp.

Joseph Monroe Leal, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church of Henryetta, was booked into Tulsa County Jail on two complaints of using technology to engage in sexual communication with a minor. He has been released on bond.

According to an affidavit filed in Tulsa County Court, Leal started texting the then 14-year-old girl after she attended the Summit Church Camp in 2009. Initially, the messages related to "spiritual subjects," the affidavit states.

In the summer of 2010, when the minor was 15, the texts became sexually explicit, according to the affidavit. The girl began saving the texts this spring.

According to the church web site, Leal has served as pastor at Immanuel Baptist since 2006. He is originally from Moore and has also served at churches in Shawnee and Wellston.