Johnson County Church Elder Arrested in Sex Sting Operation

A Johnson County church elder is facing child sex crime charges after he was arrested Tuesday, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest followed a sex sting operation conducted by local law enforcement in November 2023, which also led to the arrest of an off-duty Indianapolis firefighter and 20 other men.

Nicholas Jackson, 39, was employed by Grace Bible Church in New Whiteland and assisted with mission trips, he told police in court documents. Jackson was charged with child solicitation, possession of child pornography, and attempt to commit dissemination of matter harmful to minors.

Jackson became known to law enforcement in November when he messaged an undercover detective posing as an underage girl in a chatroom called “Bargersville friends,” according to the probable cause affidavit for his arrest. He identified himself as “Nick from Bargersville, happily married, two children. Work at a local church, and a seminary student!”

The undercover detective told Jackson he was messaging a 14-year-old girl, and he acknowledged the age several times in the conversations and stated he wanted to meet her in person, the affidavit states. Jackson requested photos of the girl in her “birthday suit,” according to the affidavit.

The detective sent a stock image of a fully clothed female, and Jackson made sexual comments about the photo, continuing to request to meet up with the girl, police said. Jackson also sent audio recordings and pictures of his genitals to the undercover detective, which police believe he took in his office at church.

Police found child pornography on one of Jackson’s electronic devices, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. He surrendered to police after a warrant was issued for his arrest. An attorney for Jackson was not yet listed in online court records before publication of this article.

On Feb. 28, 2025, Nicholas Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of child solicitation and one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors. He was sentenced to just over four and a half years’ probation and must register as a sex offender (Ephesians 5:11).

Source: Read the original report