Jeffrey A. Pringle, a New Philadelphia, Ohio, DJ and former church youth ministry volunteer, was charged on Tuesday (July 12) with two counts of child rape. The alleged sexual assaults span eight years from October 15, 2014 to July 11 of this year, involving a child age five to 12.
According to Pringle’s Facebook page, he had been attending Colorado Christian University in pursuit of a BA in biblical studies. Colorado Christian University confirmed that Pringle was an online student but stated that he has not been enrolled at the school in over two years.
Under the name “Jukebox Jeff,” Pringle provided DJ services for weddings, parties, and dances.
In addition to the two child rape charges, Pringle has also been charged with two counts of gross sexual imposition for allegedly having sexual contact with a child younger than 13 years old by force, according to Times Reporter. Those assaults allegedly happened between May 6, 2018 and June 11 of this year.
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Leadership of LifeWay Church in New Philadelphia, where Pringle served as a volunteer youth leader for roughly a decade, has notified parents who had children who attended the ministry, according to Travis Wright, who pastors the church with his wife, Leslie.
“So far, there has been no one who has come forth and accused Jeff of anything or felt uncomfortable or that their children had been targeted,” Wright told Times Reporter. “We have all been blindsided by this. It was not, in any way, something that we expected or anticipated. We love Jeff and Jeff has been a part of our family for years. And so we are heartbroken by this, for sure.”
Pringle is being held in the Tuscarawas County jail, and his bail has been set at $750,000.
Should Pringle post bond, he would be prohibited from having contact with any individual under the age of 18 for the duration of his trial and would be required to adhere to a protection order barring him from contact with the alleged victim and other protected individuals. He would also be prohibited from going to bars or taverns, and would be required to abstain from alcohol or recreational drugs. His permit to carry a concealed weapon has been revoked.
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Pringle is scheduled to appear in court on July 20.
This article has been updated for clarity.
