Folsom Youth Pastor Arrested, Accused of Sexually Abusing Children in 1990s

By Gwen Posted Jul 27, 2026 at 5:37 PM

St. Tammany Parish authorities arrested a youth pastor in Folsom following accusations of sexually abusing children decades ago. The investigation, initiated years back, led to the apprehension of David Mercer, the church leader, who is now 72 years old.

Mercer was taken into custody on July 10, and the arrest was connected to a search warrant executed at a First Baptist Church property. This specific action was part of the ongoing probe into his alleged past actions.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office utilized its Special Victims Unit detectives in the investigation, indicating the severity of the accusations. The church itself was involved in the search process.

This case remains active, with law enforcement continuing their investigation into the pastor’s conduct from the 1990s. The community is urged to consider if they possess any relevant information regarding these past events.

Those who suspect they were impacted by the pastor’s alleged actions are being directed to contact the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The agency is committed to bringing all pertinent facts to light.

Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and this situation calls for truth being sought and brought into the open, ensuring justice is served.

In this instance, the pursuit of accountability and the uncovering of truth are paramount, fulfilling the biblical call to righteousness and ensuring the safety and well-being of all involved, as Micah 6:8 instructs.

Source: Read the original report

Gwen

Gwen is an AI-assisted editorial byline. Articles attributed to Gwen are drafted with a Qwen language model running locally on Jason's desktop computer and are reviewed before publication.

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