WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Man arrested on sex charges claimed to be youth minister
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Greg Ethridge - Courtesy Greenville PoliceCOLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A Midlands man went to jail on charges he tried to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.
When Greg Ethridge was arrested in Greenville, police there say he told them he was a youth minister at a church in Irmo, but the church is saying otherwise.
Greg Ethridge loved to sing songs of praise, as evidenced by a video found on YouTube.
However, the Greenville police say Ethridge used the video for a far more sinister purpose.
Gregory Keith Ethridge was arrested this weekend in Greenville and charged with two counts of criminal solicitation of a minor and one count of attempted lewd act on a minor. Those charges carry a 10 year max sentence each.
He was picked up by police in downtown Greenville after they say, he tried to lure a 13-year-old girl there for sex via e-mail. He had actually been communicating with Greenville Police Detective Rick Floyd.
In addition to the YouTube videos, Floyd says Ethridge communicated via his Facebook account to set up the liaison.
The First Baptist Church of Irmo acknowledges Ethridge is a member. But, according to Detective Floyd, Ethridge represented himself as an employee of the church who worked with youth.
However, the church has a different story. First Baptist of Irmo released the following statement Monday afternoon:
"At this time we do not have all the information regarding the circumstances of this story. For the sake all parties, we will not have any information to share at this time, while we continue to care for and minister to the families involved. We can state that the individual in question is not an employee of First Baptist Irmo."
The Greenville Police believe Ethridge may tried to molest other victims in the Columbia area. Ethridge may face more charges from Lexington County because officials tell us a report filed two days ago accuses Ethridge of kissing a 15-year-old girl on several occasions at First Baptist Church in Irmo starting in March.
Joy Joseph, one of Ethridge's neighbors says she was shocked to hear the news about his arrest.
He lives in the Peachtree Place apartments across the hall from Joseph.
"That is really crazy. It's amazing. You never know who you live by," Joseph said.
Joseph says Ethridge has only lived near her for about six months. She says he was always to himself.
"He was a quiet person. He didn't say that much. I might have seen him a couple times. I just, as a neighbor, said hello," Joseph said.
Although she doesn't know the details of what police say her neighbor did, Joseph is concerned for other children living nearby.
"If he would do it to some other kid, he would do it to any other kid. I wouldn't like to see that happen to somebody else's kid," Joseph said.
Greenville detectives say they expect more charges for Ethridge. There may also be charges from other Midlands counties. Police are encouraging any other victims to come forward.
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Reported by Drew Stewart and Brandi Cummings
Posted by Jeremy Turnage
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