A former pastor known for leading a gay conversion therapy ministry was arrested after police reported he sent explicit images to an undercover detective, whom he believed to be 14 years old.
Alan Chambers, 54, allegedly sent lewd messages including sexual photographs to the officer via Telegram and Snapchat between February and May. The undercover operation involved Chambers believing the detective was a minor aged 14.
According to police reports, on April 10, Chambers asked the detective to take an Uber to meet him. He also allegedly deleted many messages out of fear of getting in trouble. The explicit images included photographs showing a male torso with visible genitalia, and Chambers reportedly discussed “forbidden love” during communications.
In 2013, Chambers turned against conversion therapy after admitting he was attracted to men despite being married to a woman. He shut down his conversion ministry and apologized to the gay community for “years of undue suffering and judgment at the hands of the organization and the church as a whole.”
Chambers was arrested on Tuesday during a traffic stop in Orange County. He faces charges of solicitation of a minor, transmission of harmful material to a minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. His bond was set at $15,000, and he was ordered to not communicate with anyone under 18 years old.
The Orange County Sheriff’s office stated: “Today our detectives stopped a predator before he had the chance to harm a child. … Parents, please monitor your children’s internet and social media activity — you are the first line of defense.”
