By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 1, 2026 at 10:21 AM
In a sobering development, Daniel Willis, a 62-year-old pastor from Terre Haute, was arrested on multiple felony charges related to the possession of child sex abuse material. The arrest took place on August 31, following a meticulous investigation initiated by the Indiana State Police (ISP) in early 2026. This investigation was prompted by tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and another unnamed entity.
The investigation led to a search warrant being issued for Willis’s home and church, where he serves as Senior Pastor. The search was conducted by a coalition of agencies, including the ICAC Task Force, ISP’s forensics unit, the Terre Haute Police Department, and special agents from the Department of Homeland Security. During the search, investigators uncovered electronic and digital devices containing child sex abuse files.
Willis was subsequently arrested and taken into custody at the Vigo County Jail. He faces 10 counts of possession of child sex abuse material, including depictions of children under the age of 12 and bondage. These charges are classified as level 4 felonies, reflecting the gravity of the offenses.
The Indiana ICAC Task Force, which operates under the auspices of the Indiana State Police, plays a crucial role in investigating and prosecuting individuals who exploit or entice children through the internet. The Task Force emphasizes the importance of community vigilance and encourages Hoosiers to report any suspected online exploitation or enticement of children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCMEC’s resources are accessible via the ICAC Task Force’s website.
In light of these events, the community is reminded of the biblical call to “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). As the legal process unfolds, it is crucial to uphold the principles of justice and accountability, ensuring that the rights and dignity of all involved, particularly the victims, are respected. The community is encouraged to support those affected and to remain vigilant in protecting the most vulnerable among us.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
