A Pennsylvania pastor is facing six felony charges for possession, production, and use of child sex abuse material, following a nearly-week long child predator sting, the Pennsylvania State Police announced last week.

Police charged Brad Swink, 40, with three counts of sexual abuse of children for possession of child sex abuse material, according to court records. Swink also is facing two counts of sexual abuse of children for photographing, videotaping, or depicting child sexual acts on a computer. He also faces one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

Swink served as the assistant pastor at North Rome Wesleyan Church (NRWC) in Rome, Pennsylvania.

“We are shocked and saddened with the news of the arrest of Assistant Pastor, Brad Swink,” NRWC said in a statement on social media. “Swink has been suspended from his role at the church, and his credentials suspended, pending further developments.”

The church added that it “strictly abides by PA regulations for clearances and background checks for those that work with children and youth.”

It said that these checks had been conducted for Swink. The church also noted that it is cooperating with authorities in their investigation.

“As a church, we stand against child pornography and the exploitation of children in any way,” NRWC continued. “We pray for light, truth, and justice in this matter.”

Swink was arrested following a child predator sting that aimed to identify suspects in the possession, distribution, and production of child sexual abuse material. Police said they also hoped to locate victims of child exploitation in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

The state police coordinated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement to run a sting operation between April 7-10.

Authorities investigated 15 homes suspected of having internet-related crimes against children, along with investigating and closing 24 cyber-tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Ultimately, they issued seven residential search warrants that led to six arrests, including the arrest of Swink. One additional arrest is pending the results of a digital forensics investigation, police added.

The others arrested during the sting include Robert Michel, Calvin Shaffer, Evan Hitchcock, Brandon Lantz, and Robert Pillot. All have been charged with multiple crimes involving the possession and/or production of child sex abuse material.

Several juvenile victims were identified during the operation, as well. They and their parents “were educated about the dangers of online activity,” police said.

Police reported to NorthcentralPA.com that Swink admitted to viewing and masturbating to child sex abuse material since 2022. 

Swink is currently being held at Bradford County Prison as he failed to post a $500,000 bail. His next hearing is scheduled for April 22, according to court records.

Swink worked as a pastor at NRWC since 2018, according to his Facebook account. Prior to this, he served as an assistant pastor at CrossPoint Wesleyan Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

He studied at Kingswood University in Sussex, Canada, his Facebook reports.

An archived biography on NRWC’s website describes that Swink was “raised in a loving Wesleyan parsonage family and was saved at the age of four.” It added that he decided to go into full-time ministry in high school. 

Swink was last seen leading worship at NRWC in a live stream of their service on March 30, according to the church’s Facebook account.

Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.