Former Indiana youth pastor charged with sexually abusing teen girl

A former Indiana youth pastor has confessed to police that he sexually abused a 14-year-old girl in his church office for several years, court records show.

Bryan Crabtree, 35, of Sulfur Springs, is charged in Henry County Circuit Court with sexual misconduct with a minor and three counts of child solicitation.

Files obtained by The Roys Report (TRR) shows an anonymous letter addressed to Pastor Buskirk of Sulfur Springs Christian Church who informed church leaders of the alleged sexual misconduct.

Crabtree has since been fired from the church, according to an eight-page probable cause affidavit filed June 26.

The teen told authorities that the alleged sexual abuse occurred between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31, 2022, according to the charging document filed June 25.

The abuse took place at the church and at Crabtree's home, court records show.

Crabtree, also a cross country coach and substitute teacher at Shenandoah High School, met the teen when she was a freshman, and he was her running coach, court records show.

Investigators say the former youth pastor began sending the 14-year-old student nude photographs and videos and asked her to do the same. Crabtree also created “to-do lists” telling her to send “sexual photos/videos.”

The abuse then escalated to sexual abuse, the affidavit said.

The teen produced copies of the text messages confirming the “to-do lists,” the affidavit states.

The victim refused to have sex with Crabtree. However, the former youth pastor told police he would have had sex with the teen if she had offered, according to court documents.

After being confronted by police, Crabtree told Indiana investigators that he knew his actions would become known, saying, “he knew it would come out at some point,” the affidavit states. He also reportedly said he “knew it was wrong, but he was attracted to her and didn't stop it.”

Crabtree said he was attracted to the teenager because “she was beautiful” and that he and his wife “weren't intimate” and he needed someone “to talk to or confide in,” the affidavit states.

The alleged sexual abuse continued until the teenager entered college.

Crabtree's is scheduled to return to court July 1, according to online records.

Additional charges could be filed against Crabtree, according to court records.

Sheila Stogsdill is a freelance print and digital reporter, primarily covering crime for KSN/KODE.