LOCK HAVEN -- State police say Pastor Jonathan West from Mansfield downloaded sexually explicit pictures of children on his iPad back in early July.
West is the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Mansfield, but back in 2009 he was at Covenant United Methodist Church on West Main Street in Lock Haven.
"As of August 29, when we learned about the investigation, he was placed on suspension of all his duties. We are interested in the truth of the situation and will continue to work with authorities through the investigation," said Beth Moore from the Susquehanna Conference of the First United Methodist Church.
We tried to speak with several people in Lock Haven, but most people felt too uncomfortable talking about the topic on camera.
"It makes me sick and I think it's a shame that it happens at all. It makes me scared to let my kids go outside without me being right there with them," said Jeniffer Wykoff.
State police searched West's home in Mansfield late last week after images downloaded by West were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. West admitted to state police he viewed child pornography and would share images he downloaded with others online.
"For every one pastor that is being charged with something, there are hundreds of other people doing this in the privacy of their own home that need to be looked into as well,” said Wykoff.
West is expected back in court later this month. He has been released on bail.