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Plano Minister Arrested in Sex Sting Could Face More Charges Save Email Print
Posted: 5:42 PM May 19, 2008
Last Updated: 10:59 PM May 19, 2008
Reporter: Kristen Ross
Email Address: ross@kbtx.com

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More charges could be on the way for Joe Barron, 52, the Plano minister arrested in a Bryan Internet sex sting.

Bryan police say they will turn the case over to the District Attorney's Office Tuesday. Through a two week sting operation, police were hoping to raise awareness about online dangers, and that's exactly what they did.

Now a Plano church is trying to cope after one of its ministers was busted for allegedly trying to have sex with who he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

"Our church has experienced a heartbreaking and tragic week," Prestonwood Baptist Church Pastor Jack Graham said. "We are appalled by the disgraceful actions and subsequent arrest of one of our ministers."

It was a Sunday service different than most others. Pastor Graham addressed the actions of one of his ministers who was arrested in a Bryan Internet sex sting.

Graham spoke not only to his congregation, but also expressed his feelings on the web.

"I am so sorry for the injury this grievous situation has caused," Graham said. "We have requested and received the resignation of Joe Barron effective immediately. He is no longer a member of the Prestonwood staff."

"I think it opens a lot of people's eyes, and our whole key (goal) here is to stop it from happening," Sgt Sharean Gideon said.

Sgt. Gideon was part of the Bryan police team that was waiting for Joe Barron after he allegedly drove three and a half hours to meet who he thought was a 13 year-old girl.

Gideon says conversations between Barron and the officer who posed as the teen, went on for nearly two weeks.

"They were very sexually explicit including what he wanted to do, and what he wanted her to do to him," Gideon said.

In one online chat, according to Bryan police, Barron told the "teen" it would be "fun and an honor" to teach her about sex. He later said, "how else are you going to learn?"

And it's those conversations that could add additional charges against Barron.

"If he gets sexually explicit, his intent is there, and that's a whole other charge. So each time can be a different charge," Gideon said.

Police say Barron had roughly five or six of those conversations with the undercover officer.

While the case against Barron is far from over, his former employer is trying to move on.

"We have taken a hit, but we will rise above and continue to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and proclaim His glorious Gospel," Graham said.

Last Friday, we reported that Bryan Police also found 25 to 30 other similar chats with females on Barron's phone. Bryan detectives say they are looking into those, but it could be quite some time before they know the identities of those involved in the chats or their ages.

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Posted by: Sam Location: Arizona on May 26, 2008 at 11:21 AM
O.K., go ahead with all your comments about the millstone, stoning, jail time....but all you Prestwood people and Plano and Bryan people have GOT! .....have got to think about this guy's wife.....and my!, his children. They are the ones who will live with this forever. Do any of you have any comments or feelings about them?! Anybody praying for THEM?!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 22, 2008 at 08:44 PM
I DO NOT WHANT A STONE. I NEED A ROCK.

Posted by: Jv Location: Bryan on May 21, 2008 at 10:22 AM
My heart really goes out to his family & his church! I can only imagine how they feel.

Posted by: J Location: Grimes County on May 20, 2008 at 10:10 PM
I don't know about casting stones, but I do know that Jesus said that to anyone who causes a child to stumble, it would be better for them to be tied to a millstone and thrown into the ocean(I'm paraphrasing here)...Rest assured that if he doesn't get help there will be a scarier day of reckoning for him one day that will not be by man. I don't wish that on ANYONE. I truly hope he gets help and am very sad for his family. I cannot even begin to imagine what they are going through right now.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 07:14 PM
Jv, i understand what you are saying

Posted by: Allen Location: cs on May 20, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Seems to me that Tony B is being sarcastic when saying "Those in his own church get to cast the first stone, because they are without sin." I got the feeling that he is trying to stick up for the guy saying that this guy made a mistake and we should forgive him. Forgiveness maybe, but not without maximum punishment. These are the lowest of the low.

Posted by: Jv Location: Bryan on May 20, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Yes, Anonymous, I know that that we are not to harm the children, but what I am trying to point out to Tony B - is that no one is without sin, all have fallen short of the glory of God. You see Tony B says Those in his own church get to cast the first stone, because they are without sin. " If you will remember that when people were about to stone someone to death, Jesus said "Let those who are without sin, cast the 1st stone" well - no one threw that 1st stone..Tony B was saying that the Church could cast the 1st stone - now do you understand what I am saying?

Posted by: john Location: college station on May 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I wonder how much Graham knew and when he knew it... Hopefully, if Barron had any buddies up there, the Prestonwood staff will go through their computers and find them, because I bet Barron was using Church equipment for some of his fun and games.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Jv 'all fallen short of the glory of GOD' @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ yes, but the bible states that we are not to harm the children. i think people like him fall more than short of the glory of god. falling short is minimal compared to this guy and others like him.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: BCS on May 20, 2008 at 11:26 AM
This is the second scandal to hit this church. The first was in 1988, Pastor Weber confessed to an extramarital affair. I wonder about the "mega" churches.

Posted by: Jv Location: Bryan on May 20, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Tony B, people who go to that church are not without sin, none of us are, "all fallen short of the glory of GOD" thats in the bible

Posted by: Tony B Location: at work on May 20, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Those in his own church get to cast the first stone, because they are without sin.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Anderson,Tx on May 20, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Why are people so shocked? Pedifiles come in every walk of life both sexes and education levels don't determine whether they are perverts or not. We tend to hold our clergy to higher standards, but guess what? They are flesh & blood. I HATE Molesters and if it were possible they would suffer the extreme pain that they have caused their victims. The victims are not just the children they molest but the families and futures of those people. Hang them high, give them the most severe punishment available and don't discriminate because of their professions.

Posted by: Justme Location: Bryan on May 20, 2008 at 06:45 AM
What a sad situation this is. I hope that the congregation of Prestonwood can move above this, and people wont think badly of them. My prayers go out to everyone involved in this mess, including Joe Barron, I pray that he gets the help that he needs. I also pray that all parents learn something from this and are more vigilant with their kids when it comes to the internet. Thank GOD it was a police officer that Mr. Barron met up with and not a actuall 13 year old girl!!..And to the Bryan Police I say -GOOD JOB! I HOPE YOU CATCH ALOT MORE OF THESE SICKO'S

Posted by: Billy Location: Richardson on May 19, 2008 at 11:49 PM
As a life long Baptist if 75 years, I am speechless. I cannot begin to imagine the pain the family feels. A wife, grown children and grandchildren. Makes you want to weep.

Posted by: Elmer Williams Location: College Station on May 19, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Lock this pedophile up and throw away the key! My thoughts and prayers are with his victims, his family and his church.

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