A South Carolina church says it is in "shock" after its pastor was arrested on a felony child sexual exploitation charge.
Daniel Rabon, 62, pastor of Taylor Street Baptist Church in Cayce, South Carolina, was arrested on June 30 and charged with third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to authorities.
Investigators allege that Rabon possessed more than 25 images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on his cellphone. He was released the following day on a $125,000 bond and ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device while the case proceeds.
In a statement, Taylor Street Baptist Church said members were left stunned by the allegations.
"We at Taylor Street Baptist Church are shocked and in disbelief at the current situation we have found our church family in."
The church added that it is fully cooperating with law enforcement and currently knows only the information that has been made public. It also asked the community to pray for the alleged victims, their families, and the congregation during the investigation.
The church's Facebook page has since been taken offline.
Taylor Street Baptist Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Under South Carolina law, third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a felony that carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no conviction has been reached. Rabon is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
