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Youth pastor arrested for sexual battery

Posted at 7:10 PM, Jun 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-20 17:31:24-04

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested 26-year-old youth pastor Samuel Armand Sutter of 11506 Fountainhead Drive in Tampa on Saturday for sexual battery. 

According to police, beginning in October of 2015, Sutter began a sexual relationship with a female juvenile victim. The relationship began as he was the youth pastor at the church the victim attends and escalated to numerous sexual encounters.  

The victim disclosed the information to her mother after the mother discovered sexual pictures, videos and texts exchanged between the juvenile and Sutter.  The mother then contacted the Sheriff's Office.  

The sexual encounters occurred primarily at Sutter's residence, but also occurred twice at the ladies restroom located at Openwater Church at 15612 Race Track Road.

Sutter is being charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim age 12 to 16 and five counts of sexual battery.