A former Mississippi youth pastor and basketball coach has been rearrested after pleading guilty to a child sex crime. Lindsey Whiteside’s case has been the center of controversy after Whiteside received house arrest rather than prison time.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex crimes that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Whiteside formerly worked at the Hernando campus of Getwell Church as a student and outreach coordinator. She also formerly served as an assistant basketball coach at DeSoto Central High School.
Whiteside was first arrested in November 2024 after being accused of sexually assaulting an underaged girl between May 14, 2024, and Nov. 6, 2024. Whiteside was charged with one count of felony sexual battery of a minor.
The victim was a student at Getwell Church Hernando’s youth group.
“Prior to this indictment, Lindsey Whiteside served as a youth ministry leader and basketball coach—positions that carry a profound responsibility to protect and guide others. Sexual abuse and exploitation inflict lasting harm on victims, that often last for a lifetime,” a statement from the DeSoto County District Attorney’s office read. “We understand that coming forward as a victim can be incredibly difficult, especially in cases involving trusted figures.”
On Oct. 13 of this year, Whiteside pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced to three years of house arrest, followed by seven years of supervised probation. She will also be required to register as a sex offender.
DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton objected to the sentence, as his office had advocated for Whiteside to receive the maximum punishment of 30 years in prison.
“This sentence is an absolute abomination of justice,” Barton said. “It is not right…This is the reason why people question whether our institutions actually serve victims.”
