Pastor reacts to former youth minister's arrest in sting - KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com |

On Thursday, Dr. Weeks DuBose pastor, of the church where Matthew Holman was the youth minister described how hard the arrest has been on his church who has 60 congregants and over a dozen kids who attend.

"Matthew Holman who has been an employee of the church, a youth minister since mid-January, was dismissed from his position as of Sunday morning June 5th," said DuBose.

DuBose said Holman was in charge of the youth programs that were being run at the church. He added they do their due diligence on potential employees including Matt who he's known since he was a little kid.

"We do background checks on our employees. Matthew was known to us," said DuBose.

Holman was one of the six men arrested after a two day sting where authorities said they tried solicit sex from minors.

Pastor reacts to former youth minister's arrest in sting - KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com |

West Texas sheriff: Ex-youth pastor among ‘sick and depraved’ men arrested in sex sting - San Antonio Express-News

A West Texas church’s former youth minister was arrested along with five other men in a two-day sexual predator sting last weekend in West Texas.

The men, ranging in age from 20 to 46, face a felony charge of online solicitation of a minor.


Matthew Holman was a youth minister at Westwood Baptist Church in Odessa, according to the church’s Facebook page.

"It is with great sadness that we have to address this issue," Pastor Weeks DuBose said in a statement. "Matthew Holman, who has been in the employ of the church as youth minister since mid-January, was dismissed from this position as of Sunday morning June 5th. The privileges of church membership were withdrawn from Matthew, as well. There have been no reports or questions of impropriety regarding Matthew from anyone."

DuBose told CBS 7 News in West Texas that Holman showed no signs that would make them suspect him of such behavior.

West Texas sheriff: Ex-youth pastor among ‘sick and depraved’ men arrested in sex sting - San Antonio Express-News