A Mid-South minister and gospel singer is behind bars in DeSoto County on a sexual battery charge, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities identified him as Terry Lynn Carr of Clarksdale, Mississippi. He is being held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in DeSoto County court on July 27, 2026.
According to FOX13 Memphis, DeSoto County deputies arrested Carr and booked him on a count of sexual battery. The outlet reports that sources confirmed the victim is female and that Carr remained in custody at the county detention center on the $250,000 bond. Authorities did not immediately release additional details about the alleged incidents, FOX13 reported.
Where He's Being Held
The DeSoto County website lists the Adult Detention Facility at 3425 Industrial Drive West in Hernando, according to DeSoto County. Family members and members of the press are directed to the sheriff's online roster or the detention center's public phone line for booking information.
What the Law Says
Mississippi law defines sexual battery to include sexual penetration of a child by a person in a position of trust or authority, language that "including without limitation the child's teacher, counselor, physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, minister," and outlines significant penalties for offenders, according to Justia's summary of the state code. The statute's application and potential sentencing depend on the victim's age and the circumstances, and convictions can carry lengthy prison terms and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
Background
Local reporting says Carr performed as a gospel singer and served as a minister in the Mid-South, according to FOX13 Memphis. Investigators continue to review the case, and Carr is scheduled to be arraigned in DeSoto County court on July 27, 2026.
