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Youth pastor accused of possessing, trying to produce child porn
A Phoenix youth group pastor is at the center of an international child sex crime investigation, accused of possessing and trying to produce child porn. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean reports.
PHOENIX - Authorities say a Phoenix man working as a youth group leader and director for multiple religious organizations has been arrested for alleged child sex trafficking and producing child sexual abuse material.
What we know:
Casey Goslin, 46, was arrested after investigators learned he was involved in an online platform used for livestreaming child sexual abuse material, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote in a news release on Oct. 21.
Casey Goslin (ICE)
"The probe revealed Goslin’s involvement with a platform used to perform livestreamed child sexual abuse sessions and the production of child sexual abuse material with child victims provided by child sex traffickers in the Philippines, which led HSI special agents to conduct a federal search warrant. The seized items include numerous electronic devices," authorities said.
What they're saying:
Casey Goslin was described by his neighbor as a hermit, and the charges against him are upsetting, especially knowing Goslin's proximity to children on a regular basis.
Tom Martinez, a neighbor of Casey Goslin, says hearing his neighbor is being federally charged for child sex crimes is hard to take in, especially knowing there are families with small kids that live nearby.
"This guy lived two houses from me and those people, their kids are small, I mean that's not good. A lot of people are gonna be shocked," Martinez said.
Dig deeper:
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Goslin was arrested on Oct. 16 after an investigation that began in January 2024. He is accused of using an online platform involving young victims provided by child sex traffickers in the Philippines.
Goslin was a youth ministry leader involved with multiple Valley organizations, including the Grand Canyon Synod in Phoenix, which is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A bio for Goslin on the Grand Canyon Synod website, which has since been taken down, indicated Goslin had worked with kids for three decades.
"And they were trusting in him," Martinez said.
Why you should care:
Building that trust is something retired FBI Special Agent Lance Leising said is part of a child predator's pattern of behavior.
"When predators leverage that position of trust and look for that person who may be susceptible or groom them for potential predatory action later, that's what's so dangerous. And these individuals look for positions like that. That's what they search out and try to get," Leising said.
The Grand Canyon Synod shared a statement that Goslin has been suspended from all roles in the synod, adding "The Grand Canyon Synod does not and cannot tolerate abuse, especially against children."
ICE has requested that parents of children who may have come in contact with Goslin contact law enforcement.
"Which indicates that there are potentially a lot more victims out there and they're looking to identify those, add charges, build the case, make sure justice is served for all those potential victims," Leising said.
What you can do:
Leising encourages parents to have open conversations with their kids about good and bad acts, which he says helps in exposing potential predators.
"Due to his online activity and employment as a youth group leader, authorities are seeking information that may help identify protentional [sic] victims Goslin may have engaged or abused," authorities said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ICE tipline at 866-DHS-2-ICE. You can also fill out an online form.
The Source: Information for this story was gathered from a news release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.