According to court records, Joshua Henley, 33, formerly of Benton County, Tennessee, and Evansville, Indiana, pled guilty Monday in federal district court to an eight-count indictment, admitting that he produced child sexual abuse material involving three minors, transported a minor interstate with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the minor, sent obscene videos and images to a minor, and possessed and transported child sexual abuse material. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the conviction Tuesday.

Henley was the pastor at Holladay Church of Christ in Benton County beginning in 2018 and also coached the Holladay Elementary School girls’ basketball team. In April 2021, Henley took a position at a church in Evansville, Indiana.

According to court documents the victims ranged in age from 13 to 15. One of the victims disclosed that Henley had been engaging in sexual activity with her since she was 13.

Authorities were alerted when a 15 year-old victim disclosed to a trusted adult that Henley had asked her to create and send sexually explicit images.

When Henley was arrested, investigators found a cell phone in his possession with sexually explicit images of the victims as well as video of Henley having sexual intercourse with another female minor.

Henley has worked with young people in several other states, including Indiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Sentencing is set for August 23, 2022 in Jackson, Tennessee. Henley will be incarcerated for at least fifteen years and may be sentenced to a term of up to life in prison.

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