A Florida youth pastor and softball coach have been arrested for sex crimes with minors in separate cases.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said David Robinson, a 34-year-old youth pastor, sent multiple texts with sexual content to at least two minors, aged 12 and 17 between January and June 2023.
'He disgraced the name of the church where he served and is challenging the faith of its parishioners due to his actions,' Chronister said.
Robinson is suspected of sending the minors Bible verses and ask them questions such as 'Are you sexually active? Have you ever been pregnant? Have you ever been penetrated?'
He is facing nine counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor and is being kept at the Polk County Detention Center.
David Robinson, a 34-year-old youth pastor allegedly sent multiple texts with sexual content to at least two minors, aged 12 and 17 between January and June 2023
Apart from working at the Shiloh Baptist Church, Robinson used volunteer at various Christian schools in east Hillsborough County
'I'm disappointed and disgusted that a youth leader in our community preyed on these young teens, using his position of trust to communicate in ways that are not fitting of any adult, let alone a man of God,' Chronister said.
Apart from working at the Shiloh Baptist Church, Robinson used to volunteer at various Christian schools in east Hillsborough County.
Chronister also confirmed Matthew Galhouse, a 40-year-old softball coach in Pasco County, was arrested for engaging in sexual relations with a 17-year-old in a park.
She allegedly was on a softball team in the county.
Officials also said that the 17-year-old was invited back to his house in New Tampa, Florida, and Galhouse hired her to babysit for his child for about three months. While at his house, he would would engage in sexual relations.
Matthew Galhouse, a 40-year-old softball coach in Pasco County was arrested for engaging in sexual relations with a 17-year-old in a park. She allegedly was from the softball team Lady Hawks
He has been charged with 12 counts of sexual battery. The case was brought to light after the teen's parents started becoming suspicious and started checking her phone.
'Not only did he bring her back to the house to have sex with her at his house here in Hillsborough County, he also then said, "I feel comfortable, I'll hire you to be the babysitter for my child." So when she would babysit, he took that as an open invitation to have sex with her,' Chronister said.
'This is an adult who took advantage of his victim and used his position of power and influence to get what he wanted.
'Thank you to the victims for their courage, thank you to the parents for being good parents and thank you to anyone out there who knows that these two youth leaders in our community that preyed on these young, impressionable, female adults. I am grateful for the bravery of this victim who spoke out and I plead with anyone else who may have been victimized by this softball coach or the youth pastor to please speak with our detectives.'
'Thank you to the victims for their courage, thank you to the parents for being good parents and thank you to anyone out there who knows that these two youth leaders in our community that preyed on these young, impressionable, female adults,' said Sheriff Chad Chronister
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office had already arrested and charged Galhouse on August 25 and when they suspected that similar crimes had taken place at his home, they alerted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office too
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office had already arrested and charged Galhouse on August 25 and when they suspected that similar crimes had taken place at his home, they alerted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office too. He is being detained at Pasco County Detention Center.
The Office stated on Facebook: 'Matthew Galhouse was arrested for sexual battery with a victim between 12 and 18, sexual activity with a suspect over 24 and a victim aged 16/17, promoting sexual activity with a victim 16 years or younger, traveling to meet a minor and stalking after engaging in illegal activities with a victim who was a member of the softball team.'
They also clarified that 'Galhouse was not employed at any school in Pasco County, and has been employed at the Lady Hawks softball team since approximately 2018.'
No trial date for either cases has yet been released.
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