By Bob Allen
A 37-year-old Southern Baptist youth minister is under arrest in Sasche, Texas, on charges stemming from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
Derek Hutter, minister to students at South Garland Baptist Church in Garland, Texas, faces charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child, possession of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor.
South Garland Baptist Church is listed an affiliated congregation on websites of both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
According to local media, the Sachse Police Department arrested Hutter on Friday, Oct. 17 on outstanding warrants. He was taken to the Sachse jail and held on $150,000 bond awaiting transfer to the Dallas County jail.
Police say Hutter began a sexual relationship with a girl he met through his church in January, when she was 13, that continued until September. The girl’s parent called police Oct. 3 after discovering an inappropriate e-mail.
Hutter came to South Garland from First Baptist Church of Urbandale in Dallas in 2007. According to the church website, he has worked on staff or as a consultant or volunteer at a total of seven churches.
In addition to his work with youth, Hutter has been leading the praise team at South Garland Baptist Church’s 11:15 a.m. casual service. He attended Sam Houston University and Slidell Baptist Seminary, a school established in 1994 under the umbrella of Ridge Memorial Baptist Church in Slidell, La.
He is married and has a child.