Youth leader arrested for soliciting nude photos from kids in his youth group

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WANE) - A middle school campus life director has been arrested and accused of soliciting nude photos from minors, including kids in his own youth group.

Nathan Hasty, 34, of Huntington, has been a Campus Life Director for Youth for Christ for about nine years, according to court documents.

In an affidavit from the FBI agent who investigated the case, the agent said Hasty used Facebook under three different fake identities in order to start sexual conversations with several minors and eventually solicit naked photos of them.

Facebook contacted law enforcement about the fake accounts in January to February 2012.

The affidavit states that he had two accounts under which he pretended to be a 16-year-old girl. He used these accounts to message dozens of boys, most between the ages of 12 and 14, in order to flirt with these boys and start sexual conversations. He then asked for pictures of the boys, including naked pictures. Documents state he also asked the boys for webcams sessions, claiming he didn't have a camera and could only watch.

Hasty posed as a nineteen year old boy in his third Facebook account and contacted girls and boys. According to documents, he used this account to engage in similar behavior and ask similar questions.

The FBI affidavit states that a Facebook report linked these accounts by IP addresses and browser cookies, which means Hasty used the same computer (or other devices) to access these accounts and his other personal accounts.

Hasty was confronted by law enforcement at his home on Sept. 21. He admitted to the FBI agent and the Task Force Officer that he had posed as a girl using a fake Facebook account to speak with boys in his youth group. He said he might have said some things "he shouldn't have said" and that the conversation may have become "sexual."

When they searched his computer, agents said they found videos of boys exposing their genitalia and masturbating on Hasty's fake email accounts.

Hasty was arrested on Friday, Sept. 28.  Officials will be examining his laptop.

Hasty's initial hearing was held Monday at 1:00 p.m. The judge granted a continuance, which means Hasty's detention and probable cause hearing has been moved to Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m.

Larry Lance, executive director for Youth for Christ in the Fort Wayne area, said Hasty was suspended on September 21, as soon as the organization learned of the FBI's investigation.  His employment was terminated on September 24.

Lance said leaders with Youth for Christ were shocked and saddened when they heard of the investigation into Hasty, and the organization is cooperating with authorities.

"We've been around for a long time.  There are a lot of God-fearing people in these communities that support us.  We are asking them to dedicate themselves to pray as we go through this journey," Lance said.  "Our number one concern is the health and well-being of teenagers and we're going to continue to do all that we can to impact that world and help young people.  That'll be our number one priority moving forward."