The Department of Justice and the Milton Police Department are seeking information about a Sussex County child porn case.
State prosecutors are seeking help in the case of a Sussex County pastor charged with soliciting child porn.
Leonard Eley, 62, the pastor of Storm Shelter Ministries in Laurel, was found with two photos of a naked underage person, said Caroline DeJose, a public information officer for the Delaware Department of Justice.
Leonard Eley
Investigators said Eley paid for the photos of the minor, a former Storm Shelter parishioner, with money stolen from the congregation.
One person has come forward with allegations so far, but based on witness statements the department suspects Eley’s sexual misconduct extended to other victims, DeJose said.
The department has not provided any other information about the victim or a timeline of Eley’s offenses.
They say the photos were solicited toward the end of a year that the pastor was in touch with the victim.
DeJose said the investigation began last summer, when the victim approached authorities.
The illegal activities are believed to have occurred in Milton.
The pastor was arrested during the summer, DeJose said. Last month, he was charged with sexual solicitation of a minor, theft by false pretense and two counts of possession of child pornography.
Eley has not entered a plea yet. He’s scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 6.
The pastor was released from custody on $30,000 cash bail, reduced from $63,000, DeJose said.
The department planned to hold a question-and-answer session for reporters on Tuesday, but DeJose said it was canceled due to scheduling issues. It is not granting interviews about the case.
Anyone with more information about Eley is encouraged to contact Det. Chris Whitehouse of the Milton Police Department at (302) 684-8547, extension 103.
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