Christopher Ryan Conner
Officials with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department say 33-year-old Christopher Conner is now behind bars for having sex with a teenage girl that he knew from church.
The victim told Whitwell police last week that Conner assaulted her at Whitwell High School, but detectives later found that statement wasn’t true.
Sheriff Bo Burnett says he isn’t sure why the girl lied.
In an interview with WRCB-TV, Burnett said, “I’m assuming she did it to protect him. She did have medical issues to take care of that Thursday.” Investigators say instead the girl went to Conner’s home and that’s where the incident happened.
Previous reports have stated that Connor was a Youth Pastor and Leader at First Baptist Church in Whitwell, however church officials have said that while he is a member of the church, and has spoken to the youth in the past, he is not a member of the church staff, nor has he been.
Police say at this time Conner isn’t cooperating.
“The investigator tried to question him and he asked for a lawyer so we can’t talk to him,” Burnett says.
Conner is being held on a $150,000 bond at the Marion County jail, facing two statutory rape charges and will have his first appearance in court next week.
We will continue to follow this story as it develops and bring you the latest information.
Information from: WRCB-TV
