Church Pastor Charged with Child Luring

Edmonton… Following an investigation between ALERT and Drayton Valley RCMP, a Church Pastor with the Meewasin Free Methodist Church in Duffield, Alta. has been charged with child luring.

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team arrested Glenn Harvey Boyde on March 14 and charged the 59-year-old pastor with child luring.

ICE is an integrated team consisting of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP members, and investigates offences involving child pornography, any computer-related child sexual abuse, child luring over the Internet, voyeurism involving victims under the age of 18, and child sex trade/tourism.

Back in May 2015, the parents of a 15-year-old girl discovered inappropriate texts messages on her phone. The texts were believed to be from an adult male that was known to the family through the church and youth social gatherings that the girl had participated in. The offense was reported to Drayton Valley RCMP and ICE was notified.

ICE reviewed the text messages and was able to identify Boyde as a suspect. He was employed as a pastor when the alleged offenses took place, however was removed from his official position shortly after the complaint came forward.

Boyde was released from custody on a number of conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 30 in Stony Plain.

Anyone with information about this investigation, or any child exploitation offence is encouraged to contact police or cybertip.ca.