PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A former youth minister and teacher has been arrested after deputies say he molested a 17-year-old boy, and deputies are concerned there could be more victims.
After ten years, the victim reportedly came forward to discuss the incident with deputies. Jeremiah Smith, 38, is accused of sexually battering the boy after he had been his youth pastor for several years.
Smith is listed as a Language Arts and High School English teacher at Genesis Preparatory School.
A school spokesperson told 10News the school was not immediately notified of his arrest and that law enforcement hadn't said anything to them.
"We are extremely concerned and are looking into it," the spokesperson said in a statement to 10News.
Pasco County Sgt. Michael Rosa said in a press conference that the school was contacted around noon Tuesday.
Genesis Preparatory School confirmed Smith has been an educator at the school since August 2018 and started off as a substitute teacher.
Rosa says Smith also formerly worked as a youth minister at First United Methodist Church of Hudson, where he knew the victim.
Deputies say the teen would "often spend time" at Smith's residence and during "at least eight occasions," he would tell the teen to take his clothes off in the laundry room. He would allegedly give him "full body massages," which deputies say would last 30 to 45 minutes.
According to the arrest affidavit, Smith sexually battered the teen on Sept. 12, 2009, but deputies say there is no statute of limitations in this case.
Smith is accused of telling the teen to go into the laundry room, saying "you know the drill."
Smith is accused of rubbing baby oil on the teen. The alleged victim told deputies he did not know what to do.
Deputies say Smith "repeatedly apologized to the victim" during a controlled phone call, acknowledging he "made a series of horrible decisions." Smith also admitted to the crime, according to deputies.
Smith admitted to giving the teen "a massage on occasion," and touching the teen's 'butt,' but claimed the incident happened when the victim was 18 years old, according to law enforcement.
Smith was arrested for sexual battery of a victim under 18 years of age and sent to Land O' Lakes Detention Facility without further incident.
Deputies say there could be more victims in the case since Smith has worked around children for many years and are asking potential victims to come forward.
“People do confess to this quite often,” Rosa said. “It takes a lot of bravery to come forward to say that you were abused in a sexual crime.”
Smith's biography on the school website says he has "enjoyed working with students for 20 plus years as a coach and teacher to middle and high school students." It also says he has been married to his wife for 15 years and that he "believes his greatest accomplishment in life is raising his three incredible boys."
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