Former Virginia youth minister indicted on federal child abuse charges

Jeffrey Turner Taylor, a 66-year-old former youth minister, has been arrested and indicted on federal charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of minors. Prosecutors allege that Taylor, who served at The Falls Church in Northern Virginia from 1990 to 2002, groomed multiple boys under the pretense of spiritual mentorship. The Department of Justice claims these activities included sexual misconduct during ministry-related travel and continued until 2008 while he worked at other congregations in the Atlanta area.

An independent investigation commissioned by The Falls Church Anglican, which formed following a schism within the original congregation, concluded in 2024 that Taylor engaged in inappropriate behavior that met the definitions of grooming and abuse. The report noted that the church did not receive formal complaints regarding Taylor until 2007, five years after his departure. Taylor is scheduled for arraignment on September 24 and faces a potential maximum sentence of 105 years in prison if convicted.