SANDWICH – Harvest Chapel has not been contacted by authorities regarding the Tuesday arrest of its former youth pastor.
Barry Caudle, 39, served as youth minister at Harvest Chapel from 2004-2010. He was arrested Tuesday on charges of soliciting a child for sex acts from an undercover online investigation that originated in Rock Island. Caudle was most recently a youth minister at Marengo First Assembly of God.
Harvest Chapel Lead Pastor Wes Bell said he believes the congregation is somewhat removed from the situation because Caudle has been gone for more than a year. Still, he expects there to be some questions from members.
"It's shocking, surprising and sad ... really sad," Bell said.
DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said Tuesday his office has not been contacted by the attorney general's office regarding Caudle.
Caudle solicited an officer posing online as a 14-year-old girl for sex acts, according to a news release from the attorney general's office. That office took the case a month ago, which led to Tuesday's arrest at First Assembly of God in Marengo.
Caudle of Marengo was charged in Rock Island County with three counts of indecent solicitation of a child and one count each of grooming and unlawful luring of a minor.
