By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 3, 2026 at 7:20 AM
In Bossier Parish, Louisiana, a former youth pastor has been arrested in connection with allegations of child sex crimes dating back several decades. David Mercer, 72, of Folsom, Louisiana, was apprehended by the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office (BPSO) following an investigation into multiple alleged offenses. The investigation, which began on June 29, centers on claims involving four child victims, with the incidents purportedly occurring between 1989 and 1995.
Mercer, who served as a youth minister at Cypress Baptist Church of Benton, resigned from his position in 1995. At the time of the alleged offenses, he was living and working in Bossier Parish. On July 10, detectives, with assistance from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, arrested Mercer in Folsom without incident. A search of his residence was conducted under a warrant.
Following his arrest, Mercer was charged with 90 counts of forcible fondling molestation of a juvenile. He was subsequently booked at the Bossier Parish Maximum Security Facility. Sheriff Julian Whittington emphasized the gravity of the allegations, stating, “Although nearly 40 years have passed, the passage of time does not lessen the seriousness of these crimes or the impact they have had on those affected.” He urged anyone with information or who believes they may have been a victim to come forward, underscoring the commitment to justice for those impacted.
The investigation remains active, with the possibility of additional charges and victims being identified. The BPSO has encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact their detectives at (318) 965-3418. In this pursuit of justice, the community is reminded of the biblical call to seek justice and care for the vulnerable, as reflected in Micah 6:8.
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.
