A former Stuart youth pastor has been charged with enticing a minor over the internet, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday.
Jeffrey Brian Mobley, 24, allegedly had sex with two minors under his care in a religious-based youth program in Stuart. According to a criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors, Mobley enticed the minors to engage in sexual activity and exchange sexually explicit images.
Mobley now lives in Ocala and made his first appearance before a federal judge there on Monday. He was ordered to be held in custody pending a detention hearing on Wednesday.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation in September after receiving a report of suspicious conduct by Mobley.
If convicted, Mobley would face 10 years to life in prison. He would also face up to a lifetime of supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender.
