A former youth minister in Jasper has been sentenced to federal prison for possession of child pornography. WNIN’s John Gibson has the story:
A judge sentenced 24-year-old Aaron Paul Lockman to nine years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Lockman pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing sexually explicit material involving minors.
He was also ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution.
Court documents show the investigation began in 2024, when FBI agents arrested then-Superintendent of Owensboro Public Schools Matthew Constant for attempting to solicit sexual acts from minors.
During that investigation, agents say they uncovered WhatsApp conversations between Constant and Lockman in which the two discussed their shared sexual interest in children and exchanged illegal images of child sexual abuse.
Authorities say Lockman was employed as a youth minister at a church in Jasper, where he was entrusted with supervising young boys and frequently took them on one‑on‑one outings.
Agents says they searched Lockman’s church‑issued computer and cell phone and found videos depicting minors under the age of 12, including material involving abusive conduct.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Tom Wheeler says his office will continue to pursue anyone who preys on children, “no matter their title, position, or community standing.”