12-Year-Old Girl Discovers Pastor Filming Her Undressing at Youth Group Campsite, Suspect Pleads Guilty

A 12-year-old girl discovered her pastor filming her while she undressed at a youth group campsite in New York in 2019. Now, the pastor faces up to 20 years in federal prison after admitting his guilt.

Nathan L. Rogers, from East Aurora, NY, pleaded guilty to attempted receipt of child pornography on Wednesday, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York. The charge also carries a $250,000 fine.

The child was traveling with her youth group to a Christian music festival at Darien Lake Park, according to an affidavit obtained by the Miami Herald. After the group went to a nearby water park, Rogers invited the child to change in his camper. He told her “it would be more comfortable than changing in a hot tent," the affidavit stated, per the newspaper.

Rogers had "set up iPhones in his camper to surreptitiously record, for the purposes of his own sexual gratification, nude images of a minor victim," the press release said.

She agreed to change in the camper and the phones recorded her as she did. She then discovered an iPhone recording her, propped on a ledge and concealed by clothes, according to the affidavit. She found a second phone recording her hidden on the bed.

The child took the phones and tried to delete the videos. Then, she reported the incident to authorities.

Law enforcement detained and questioned Rogers. Nude images of the minor were found on the phones.

Attorney Phil A. Modrzynski, who represents Rogers, told the Herald in a statement that his client “admitted to his regretful conduct” and cooperated with law enforcement.

He was previously a youth pastor at Life Church in West Seneca, according to The Buffalo News.

Rogers' sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 13.