Phoenix Lutheran Youth Minister Charged with Child Sexual Abuse Material Production

A Lutheran youth ministry leader in Phoenix has been federally charged with producing and spending thousands on child sexual abuse materials.

Casey Goslin, 46, worked as a youth director for several organizations linked to the Grand Canyon Synod, one of 65 synods within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Goslin was arrested on Thursday by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Tucson police, according to a press release from HSI.

Goslin allegedly used the Skype username “live:.cid.bbdbec6f18b26922” to buy and sell explicit materials in 2024, according to a criminal complaint. In one conversation with a suspected child sex trafficker in the Philippines, Goslin exchanged digital tokens for a photo of a toddler performing sexual acts on another toddler. Authorities subpoenaed PayPal and discovered that Goslin allegedly spent around $3,700 in 101 payments for similar graphic images. Each transaction cost on average from $1 to $50, the complaint said.

In April 2025, HSI agents searched Goslin’s home, vehicle, and person and discovered additional explicit materials and “child erotica” on his computer and in WhatsApp on his phone. Authorities added that Goslin produced the materials using another Skype username. He coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing a “live visual depiction” in April 2023, the complaint said.

Goslin has been suspended from all his roles in the Synod, Bishop Deborah Hutterer said in a statement. He worked in the Synod’s youth ministry and advisory team, she noted. According to the Synod website, Goslin also worked as a youth director and director for the West Valley Young Adult Community.

“While we affirm and uphold the civic principle that everyone is entitled to a fair trial and presumed innocent until proven guilty, we also affirm—without qualification—that the Grand Canyon Synod does not and cannot tolerate abuse, especially against children,” Hutterer said.

Hutterer said the Synod is committed to supporting anyone in the community who may have been harmed by Goslin. She added the ministry is cooperating with law enforcement and is reviewing its internal processes, including background checks and volunteer supervision, to ensure they “remain strong and effective.”

“We understand that trust is vital in ministry with youth,” Hutterer said. “We deeply regret any harm or worry this situation may cause our congrega”

Source: Read the original report