The son of the leaders of a Palatka church who stepped down amid a sex solicitation with a minor scandal in April has now been arrested.
The Palatka Police Department posted a lengthy explanation on its Facebook of why 26-year-old Caleb Steven Roberts wasn’t charged sooner.
On June 24 he was arrested by the Tampa Police Department an the out of county warrant from Palatka on charges of traveling to meet a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, transmission of harmful material to a minor by electronic device and soliciting a child or a person believed to be a child for unlawful sexual conduct using a computer service or electronic device.
Roberts, who’s booking address lists Ocala, remained in the Hillsborough County jail in lieu of $55,000 bail.
Times-Union news partner First Coast News reported it began on April 21 when Operation 17:2, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children by exposing online predators, uploaded a video to its YouTube as members confronted Roberts at a store allegedly to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex.
In the video he says he just wanted to talk and is a youth pastor and volunteer, so he wouldn’t do something like having sex with a minor. He was apologetic saying he was wrong and even called his parents under the instruction of the members asking him pointed questions.
Palatka and Putnam County law enforcement are seen arriving, and he is placed in the back of a patrol car but not arrested.
The video caused an uproar in the community. On April 27, Victory Church announced that Steve and Angie Roberts, the pastor and his wife ― and Caleb Roberts’ parents ― would be stepping down from their roles, citing “recent circumstances that have brought deep sorrow to many within the church and community.”
Their statement also said there is “no place in the body of Christ for sexual misconduct or the abuse of trust in any form,” according to First Coast News.
Following their son’s arrest, the Palatka Police Department posted an update to the case stating it has received numerous questions regarding the investigation.
To provide clarity, it is important to note that Operation 17:2 was not acting under the direction, supervision or in partnership with the Palatka Police Department. While their actions ultimately resulted in a call for service to our agency, the information they provided could not be accepted at face value and required an independent criminal investigation.
Upon receiving the case, Palatka Police Department investigators conducted a thorough and impartial investigation to independently verify the information presented. This process included, but was not limited to:
Because of the extensive investigative process required, an immediate arrest at the scene was not legally appropriate. Detectives were committed to ensuring that the evidence collected would support successful prosecution and withstand judicial scrutiny.
As a result of the completed investigation, an arrest warrant was issued on June 9, 2026.
The Palatka Police Department remains committed to conducting thorough, professional, and legally sound investigations. While public concern in cases involving crimes against children is understandable, our responsibility is to ensure every case is built on independently verified evidence that can be successfully prosecuted in court.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Church leaders’ son arrested after viral video targeting predators
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
