Austin Wray Perkins, a 27 year-old former youth minister of a Floyd County church, was sentenced this week to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to child molestation and possession of child pornography charges.

In addition,  he was given 25 years on probation.

Floyd County Assistant District Attorney Leah Mayo read statements from the victim and his now reunited father, saying, “I know my son will never be the same from the hell Austin has put him through.”

Perkins’ attorney told the courts of a psychosexual evaluation that his client took before sentencing. In the report he described incidents in his client’s childhood when he had been victimized sexually as well. 

His attorney went on to say that Perkins has a treatable condition and asked the judge to prescribe treatment for Perkins when he’s released from prison.

PREVIOUS

A twenty-six-year-old former youth minister, Austin Wray Perkins, of Rome, is facing up to forty years in prison after pleading guilty to child molestation charges this week. 

Perkins served as the outh minister at Grace Fellowship Baptist Church when he was arrested and charged with felony child molestation and sexual exploitation of children. 

According to reports at the time of his arrest, Perkins took the child in his home and molested the boy. 

PREVIOUS

A youth minister, Austin Wray Perkins, 25 of Rome, was arrested this week after reports said he photographed himself engaging in sexual acts with someone under the age of 16 years.

Reports said that the acts included sodomizing the child.

“The child had no family or support and had been taken in by (Perkins) for care,” FCPD Sgt. Chris Fincher said. “The juvenile who was rescued by police was living with (Perkins) who was coaching the child about how to act in videos and also engaging in acts of child molestation.”

Fincher added that he would be reaching out to other children Perkins had contact with to see if any other charges would be filed.

Perkins was part of a child porn sex sting, called Operation Spring Cleaning, that netted five other arrests.

Perkins is charged with aggravated child molestation and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

For full story on bust click link https://coosavalleynews.com/2022/03/child-porn-sting-nets-7-arrest-including-youth-minister/

The RNT contributed to this story.