Tennessee Church Deacon Allegedly Used Hidden Cameras to Film Teenage Babysitter

A 42-year-old church deacon in Hixson, Tennessee, faces multiple felony charges after his wife allegedly found secret recordings of a teenage babysitter on his phone, leading to his arrest by local authorities.

Christopher Thomas Collins was charged with nine counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor following the discovery. Collins, who served as a deacon at Abba’s House church, also known as Central Baptist Church of Hixson, had been a member for four years before being removed from his role upon his arrest.

The investigation began when Collins asked his wife to hold his phone during a medical procedure, as detailed in a police affidavit. Suspecting infidelity, she examined the device and allegedly uncovered hidden files containing videos of a 15-year-old girl, who was a family friend and babysitter, using the shower, bathroom, and changing in the guest bathroom of their home. The wife provided SD cards from two hidden cameras to police, who identified nine such videos.

Collins remains in custody at the Hamilton County Jail.