A Missouri church elder who also works as a university communications professor has been charged with a misdemeanor after an alleged online solicitation sting, according to police documents reported by Queerty and NBC News in December 2019. The man, identified in those reports as Barry, has not been convicted of anything, and the charge is only an allegation at this stage.
According to the reports, police received a tip that Barry was contacting male students at the university and offering to pay for items in exchange for sexual contact through a dating app. Officers then created an undercover profile earlier in December and, per the police documents, Barry reached out to it.
Police documents quoted by Queerty say he messaged the undercover account that he would like a “sugar daddy relationship.” Investigators allege he then offered a tank of gas and possibly a fast food gift card in exchange for sexual favors, and that the two agreed to meet at a local gas station on December 3.
The documents say officers pulled him over a few blocks from the meeting spot after he left the scene. Barry reportedly told police he “was not doing anything with a minor.” When told he was being arrested for solicitation, he reportedly said he “was not going to do that” and that he was “only trying to help.” Officers responded that offering to pay in exchange for sex counts as solicitation, according to the reports.
He was charged with one misdemeanor count of patronizing prostitution. If convicted, the charge carries up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, according to the reports.
The university said in a statement that he has been placed on suspension, is not allowed on campus, and cannot have contact with student organizations or take part in campus events. His name was also reported to have been removed from his church’s website. Baller Alert has not seen a public statement from Barry responding to the charge.
We will update this story if more information about the case becomes available.
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