Authorities in Louisiana say a longtime youth pastor is at the center of a sprawling child sex abuse case that reaches back more than three decades. David Mercer, 72, who had been serving at First Baptist Church of Folsom, was arrested on July 10 and now faces 90 counts of child molestation tied to alleged abuse in Bossier Parish in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Investigators say the case currently involves four alleged victims from 1989 to 1995 and that they expect more people to come forward. Mercer was taken into custody without incident at a church-owned property in Folsom.
Investigation and charges
Detectives say the investigation formally opened on June 29 and that Mercer was identified during the course of that probe. Investigators currently list four alleged victims and place the accusations in the 1989 to 1995 timeframe, according to KSLA. Prosecutors have charged Mercer with 90 counts of forcible fondling, the Louisiana statute that covers molestation of a juvenile, and officials say the investigation is still very much active. Authorities say additional charges are likely if more alleged victims come forward.
Arrest and search
Bossier Parish detectives traveled to Folsom on July 10 to take Mercer into custody at a residence owned by the church, with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office assisting and executing a search warrant, according to Louisiana Radio Network. At the time of his arrest Mercer was serving as a youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Folsom, which has said publicly that it is cooperating with investigators. Detectives searched both the home where he was arrested and another church-owned property as part of the case.
Booking and bond
Investigators say Mercer was transported to the Bossier Parish Maximum Security Facility and formally booked on July 11 on 90 counts of forcible fondling, with bond set at $2.5 million, according to reporting by Muddy River News. Prosecutors describe the case as involving repeated molestation allegations linked to Mercer’s work in Bossier Parish in the early 1990s. Officials say they are still collecting and reviewing evidence and that new tips are being evaluated as they come in.
“Although nearly 40 years have passed, the passage of time does not lessen the seriousness of these crimes or the impact they have had on those affected,” Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington said as he urged anyone with information to speak with investigators, according to KSLA. Sheriff Whittington added that his office will continue working with partner agencies while the investigation moves forward.
Church response and support
First Baptist Church of Folsom said in an online statement that its “hearts are broken” and that it is reviewing hiring and child-protection policies, while also offering to connect anyone who has been harmed with a licensed counselor, according to Baptist Message. The church’s pastor, Will Robbins, called Mercer’s arrest “a total surprise” in a Facebook post, as reported by The Roys Report.
Where Mercer worked before
Authorities say Mercer previously served as a youth minister at Cypress Baptist Church in Benton and resigned from that position in 1995. He later worked at a congregation in Hannibal, Missouri, in the late 1990s, according to Muddy River News. Officials in Hannibal have told local outlets they are not aware of allegations tied to his time there, while investigators continue to determine the full scope of possible victims and locations.
Legal note
The charges filed against Mercer fall under Louisiana’s “molestation of a juvenile” statute, La. R.S. 14:81.2, which defines the offense and sets sentencing ranges that can stretch to decades in prison depending on the victim’s age and whether the offender was in a supervisory role. The state also classifies molestation as a crime with no statute of limitations for prosecution, meaning cases from decades ago can still result in charges. The full legal language on the offense and the timing rules for prosecution is available from the Louisiana Legislature at La. R.S. 14:81.2 and the state's time-limit provisions.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives at (318) 965-3418 or the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 898-2338, according to local reporting and law enforcement releases. Authorities say they hope additional victims or witnesses will come forward and that any new information will be reviewed by prosecutors as the case develops.
