Former church youth director pleads guilty to use of child porn

Raleigh, N.C. — The former youth director at a church in Cary pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to downloading child porn.

Cary police arrested Jerrod Don McCabe, 35, of 523 Brook Arbor Drive, in March 2011, and charged him with 20 counts of having child pornography on his church computer.

In pleading guilty to three of those charges, he admitted to having the images, but prosecutors said there was no evidence that McCabe inappropriately touched any of the children he worked with at Raleigh Chinese Christian Church.

McCabe left his job at the church, located on Chapel Hill Road in Cary, after his arrest, but several church members were in court Monday to support him. His wife, Abbigail McCabe, was also present.

According to the terms of his plea, McCabe must register as a sex offender and enter treatment programs for sex offenders and for substance abuse. He will be on probation for three years.

If he conforms to the terms of his probation, he will not serve any jail time.

The McCabes said they planned to move to Alabama, where he has family.

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@charmcclainlovesdogs2

Even so, why be so trusting to the person in the first place. He should not be alone and some else should be there with him helping with the youth.

Absolutely agree. We have a rule at our church that there are supposed to be 2 unrelated adults at all times with children. This not only protects the kids, it protects the adults from false accusations.

That being said, his downloading child pornography was done in private, I assume. The two adult rule would not have made any difference. And I suspect no one, not even his wife, knew he was doing this kind of thing. Bottom line, we can never guarantee the safety of our children 100%. We can only do our best.

Soli Deo
April 24, 2012 12:31 p.m.

Why put these children in danger, waiting for something to happen when you may not know the person that well as you think. Put the children safety first. Can you even do that?

charmcclainlovesdogs2
April 24, 2012 12:11 p.m.

sex-related offense will have no record. Background checks are not infallible. Sometimes the only way you find out about a person is when they're caught.

Even so, why be so trusting to the person in the first place. He should not be alone and some else should be there with him helping with the yourth.

charmcclainlovesdogs2
April 24, 2012 12:10 p.m.

@charmcclainlovesdogs2

We do background checks for all paid staff at our church. But someone who has never been arrested for a sex-related offense will have no record. Background checks are not infallible. Sometimes the only way you find out about a person is when they're caught.

For the record, this man should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and he should never be allowed to work with children again. But to take an anti-church stance because he's a church worker ... or to speak of him as if he's a serial killer, is ridiculous. Get a grip, folks.

Soli Deo
April 24, 2012 11:49 a.m.

I think he is no less deserving of prayers, for he definitely has a sickness, one that will require much prayer and faith, not only his, but others.

MommieOf3

Prayer never hurt anyone and is needed in our daily life. But he should not have been a leader of the youths PERIOD! Get it now!

charmcclainlovesdogs2
April 24, 2012 11:34 a.m.