Former Mississippi Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to Federal Sex Trafficking Charge

Lindsey Aldy Whiteside, a former youth pastor at Getwell Church in Hernando, Mississippi, has entered a guilty plea to a federal charge of transporting a minor across state lines for illicit sexual activity. The plea agreement resulted in the dismissal of two additional counts, including enticing a minor and a separate charge of transporting a minor to Georgia for sexual purposes. Whiteside remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for January 13, 2027.

Legal filings indicate that Whiteside utilized her position of trust to groom the victim and isolate the teenager from family and church peers during organized trips. Prosecutors allege that the abuse occurred repeatedly over an extended period. This federal conviction follows a 2025 guilty plea in state court for sexual battery, for which Whiteside had previously received a sentence of house arrest and supervision. Under the current federal charges, she faces a minimum of 10 years in prison, a potential life sentence, and mandatory registration as a sex offender upon release.