Search warrant reveals youth pastor sent nude photos to 11-year-old in Florida

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – A mother in Florida traced nude photos found on her son’s phone to a youth pastor in New Hanover County.

New Hanover County deputies arrested Tyler Smither on December 1 on charges of indecent liberties with a minor. Smither worked as a youth pastor at Harbor United Methodist Church on Masonboro Loop Road.

According to the search warrant, a mother in Florida has parental control on her son’s cell phone through Verizon. She was notified by Verizon that a new number was contacting her son’s phone. The mother searched her 11-year-old’s phone and found nude photos of an adult male. The woman says her son told her he was on a website called Omegle and started talking to an older guy. At some point they began Skyping and texting each other.

The mother searched the number on Facebook and it led to Smither. The mother filed a report with her local sheriff’s office.

The search warrant also states the mother called Pastor Russ Nanney at Harbor United Methodist Church and told him she traced nude photos on her son’s phone to their youth pastor. Nanney then called the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

The search warrant also states text messages show Smither advising the child he was at work during a portion of their conversation and home during another portion. The child originally told Smither he was 19. During the conversation Smither said he didn’t look older than 13 and the child responded he was actually 14. The search warrant states Smither did not stop the conversation and continued to send nude photos and asked for photos of the child.

According to his Facebook page, Smither is from Raleigh, where he also served as an intern and youth leader at a church. His page also says he worked at a church in Mississippi as a youth director.

The church’s pastor confirmed to WWAY that Smither had worked with the church for two years until the church learned of the charge against him. That’s when he was fired.

Smither is out of jail on a $100,000 bond.