A pastor previously on staff at Maranatha Baptist Church, where former President Jimmy Carter attended, has been arrested following a child sex crimes sting

Jeffrey Summers, 52, who served at the church from 2005 to 2013, was charged after allegedly communicating with police officers posing as underage children online -  the force had been undertaking an anti-child sex crime initiative dubbed 'Operation Full Throttle'.

Summers allegedly attempted to meet with a 14-year-old boy to engage in unlawful sexual activity on 7th March, according to the Port Orange Police Department. 

In an incident report obtained by WALB, the force said:.“The defendant knowingly used a computer, the internet, or a cell phone to solicit a child whom the defendant believed to be a 14-year-old male with the intent to engage in some form of unlawful sexual activity with that child." 

At the time of his arrest, it was reported that Summers had been working with children at Horizon Elementary School in Port Orange, Florida.

Officials at Horizon Elementary and the Volusia County School Board had "been made aware and are taking appropriate action", according to police. 

The operation led police to arrest 16 others on charges related to child sex crimes, police said. 

Maranatha Baptist is known for being the church where the late President Jimmy Carter worshipped and was a long-time Sunday school teacher.

Following his death last year, the church described Carter as “a man compelled to live in the footsteps of Jesus, with hands of peace and a heart of love for all of Creation".