Former Church Youth Leader Arrested and Charged With Child Molestation, Sexual Battery

Troup County
Source: www.timesfreepress.com. Mugshot courtesy of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office

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A former church youth leader who was recently a PTA president in Tennessee has been arrested and extradited to Troup County in Georgia. Dustin Spillers, 34, has been charged with one count of aggravated sexual battery and three counts of child molestation. 

Troup County Officers Arrest Dustin Spillers

Online records show that the Troup County Sheriff’s Office booked Dustin Spillers on Jan. 16 and that he is being held without bond. Sgt. Stewart Smith has said that the incidents for which Spillers was arrested allegedly took place in 2022 and involve two boys, 8 and 10 years old, who are relatives of Spillers. Attorneys for Spillers filed for bond on Wednesday, arguing that Spillers “poses no significant threat or danger to any person, property or the community” and that he “poses no significant risk of flight.”

Spillers, who lives in Ooltewah, Tennessee (about 20 miles outside of Chattanooga), was president of the PTA of Wolftever Elementary School in Ooltewah. He served in that position starting at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year and resigned over the Christmas holidays. The school’s principal, Gail Huffstutler, has said that the charges against Spillers “have no known connection” to the school.

Prior to serving as PTA president, Spillers was a volunteer youth leader at Abba’s House in Hixson, Tennessee. According to Fox Chattanooga, the church says that he passed a background check, was never an ordained pastor at Abba’s House, and left the church in 2015. Lead pastor Dr. Ronnie Phillips, Jr. said, “There were no inappropriate actions by Dustin Spillers known by Abba’s House while he attended here. We are praying for the Spillers family, any alleged victims, and all other churches, individuals, and families that may be affected by the alleged actions.”

For the past year and a half, Spillers and his family have attended City Church Chattanooga, where Spillers has volunteered on the worship team. The church’s pastor says there is no known connection between the church and the charges of which Spillers is accused.

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Jessica Lea
Jessica is a content editor for ChurchLeaders.com and the producer of The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. She has always had a passion for the written word and has been writing professionally for the past five years. When Jessica isn't writing, she enjoys West Coast Swing dancing, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.

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