A Virginia pastor was arrested for solicitation of underage prostitution after an online sting operation.
John Blanchard,51 is a pastor at the Rock Church of Virginia Beach. He was one of 17 individuals arrested in the sting operation Monday.
The Chesterfield County Police Special Victims Unit set up an online chat room where the suspected men thought they were talking to underage children.
During this time the men arranged to meet the underage children for sexual relations. When the suspects arrived at the expected locations, they were met by police instead.
The 17 men arrested range in age from 24 to 51 years of age. The majority are from Virginia, including Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Prince George, Louisa and Virginia Beach, and one is from Maryland.
Blanchard, who is from Virginia, was arrested Oct. 29 on charges of solicitation of prostitution from a minor age 16 or older and using a vehicle to promote prostitution or unlawful sex. He was released on bond.
He has been a lead pastor at the church since 2013.
