Who is Andrew Weaver? Florida youth pastor wanting sex with girl, 17, stopped by 'angel' maid
LAKELAND, FLORIDA: A Florida youth pastor is accused of trying to have sex with a teenage girl in a hotel room, before being accidentally stopped by a maid. Andrew Weaver, 29, who worked for Highlands Church of Christ, was arrested on Wednesday, June 9, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a press conference.
Detectives were notified after church leaders learned that Weaver may have had an inappropriate relationship with a minor in his youth group. The victim is a 17-year-old girl Weaver had been "informally counseling" when he requested to see nude photographs of her. Weaver faces charges of attempted unlawful sex with a minor and interference with child custody, both of which are third-degree felonies.
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Weaver and the victim were making out when interrupted
The unnamed victim first sought Weaver's counsel after she admitted to having sexual fantasies. Weaver then asked her if any of the fantasies had involved him. She said she told him she did have sexual fantasies about him. According to an excerpt of the affidavit obtained by Daily Ridge, "The victim disclosed she showed Weaver naked pictures of herself on her cell phone device, and Weaver would frequently ask to see these pictures, but insisted she never transmit them to him electronically. The victim believed he requested this to avoid getting in trouble, as he also requested she keep their relationship secret."
Judd condemned Weaver's actions by saying, "Instead of him being the adult in the room, he creates a relationship with a 17-year-old child. Did I tell you that he's 29, and married, and a youth pastor?" The sheriff's office further added that after meeting the victim at the church, back in December or January, Weaver took her to a motel in Mulberry where he had rented a room. However, before Weaver could have sexual intercourse with the minor, Judd said a maid knocked on the door, startling Weaver.
"She and Weaver were at the hotel for approximately 30 minutes and were naked from the waist up in their room. The victim disclosed she and Weaver were making out, and Weaver touched and kissed the bare area of her breasts. The victim advised she and Weaver were interrupted by a maid knocking on the door, but the maid did not enter the room. The victim disclosed this startled Weaver, and they both put on their clothes and returned to the church. The victim advised she believed their sexual contact would have continued to progress if they had not been interrupted by the maid," the affidavit added.
'Maid was an angel'
The sheriff added during the press conference, "That maid [who] went to the door, she was an angel that day because it freaked him out and the rest of that 'inappropriate counseling session' didn't take place." He added that the church was right to turn Weaver in to the sheriff's office when they learned about what he had done. "Let me share a little counseling with Andrew here: Jesus don't like that," Judd said. "I'd even go so far to say he's pissed."
On June 7, Weaver was interrogated regarding his alleged crimes, he admitted to having the attempted tryst at the hotel. "Weaver advised he believed he had “crossed a line” with the victim, which he further explained that he was closer to the victim emotionally than he should have been... Weaver stated he struggles with impulse control and then drove himself and the victim to the Best Western Hotel in Mulberry, FL after discussing the VICTIM’s sexual fantasies." the affidavit said.
Weaver is currently in the Polk County jail and has no bond. “Youth ministers are entrusted with mentoring our children. This minister betrayed that trust and he must be held accountable," Judd added.