By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 1, 2026 at 5:55 PM
An Indiana pastor, Daniel Willis, has been arrested on multiple charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material, as announced by the Indiana State Police. The arrest followed a coordinated effort involving the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the ISP, Terre Haute police, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
The investigation began earlier this year after the ISP received several tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and another unnamed entity. Investigators employed a variety of techniques, culminating in the execution of a search warrant at both Willis’ residence and his workplace, where he served as a senior pastor. The specific church where Willis served was not disclosed, but the search warrant was carried out in Terre Haute.
In addition to his pastoral role, Willis also volunteered as a chaplain for the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office. However, Sheriff Derek Fell noted that Willis was dismissed from this position in 2018. A statement from the sheriff’s department emphasized their commitment to supporting the investigation and ensuring justice for crimes against children, underscoring that such offenses have no place in society.
During the search, law enforcement seized various electronic and digital media devices. Forensic examinations of these devices revealed the presence of child abuse files. Willis was arrested without incident and taken to the Vigo County Jail, where he faces 10 counts of possession of child sex abuse material involving victims under 12 years old. Each charge is classified as a Level 4 felony.
This case serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of accountability and justice, aligning with Micah 6:8’s call to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.” As the community grapples with these events, it is crucial to remember the biblical imperative to care for victims and uphold justice, reflecting Proverbs 31:8-9’s exhortation to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
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.
