Barry Cole Poyner, a church leader and elder at the Kirksville Church of Christ in Missouri and Communications professor at Truman State University, has been caught attempting to buy sex on gay hookup app Grindr.
Kirksville Church of Christ has a history of posting messages to their social media about how being gay is wrong, as well as having sex outside of marriage.
Poyner is one of the church’s three elders and is even responsible for coordinating vacation bible schools as well as offering marriage counseling. Poyner also has a history of giving sermons about the wrongful act and evils of homosexuality.
However, Poyner has now been charged with a misdemeanor count of patronizing prostitution following reports to police that he “harasses male Truman students for sexual contact as well as offering to pay for items for sexual favors by using the app Grindr.”
After receiving the tip, Police officers created a fake Grindr profile earlier this month, and Poyner quickly took the bait. According to reports, Poyner reached out to the page saying, “[I] would love to have a sugar daddy relationship” using the username “DILF.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
He also told the page that in previous relationships, he’d given out gift cards, clothing, and money to his young male partners.
But the church leader took it a step further telling the account, run by an undercover officer, that he would buy him a tank of gas and “might throw in an Arby’s gift card” in exchange for sexual favors.
Following that conversation, the two agreed to meet at a local gas station on Dec. 3.
After police arrived at the scene, Poyner attempted to get away. However, he was pulled over just a few blocks later. Police documents reveal that he told cops that he “was not doing anything with a minor.”
After an officer told him he was being arrested for soliciting a prostitute, Poyner claimed he “was not going to do that” and “I was going to give him some gas.” After the officer explained to him that was the same as paying for sex; he revealed that he was “only trying to help.”
Since the incident took place earlier this month, Poyner’s name has been removed from the church’s website. Poyner has also been placed on suspension by Truman State University.
In a statement released by the University, the school states, “He has been placed on suspension and informed that he is not allowed on campus, cannot have contact with any student organizations or participate in any campus events or activities.”
If Poyner is to be found guilty, he faces up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.
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