By Pat Culverhouse

A minister of a rural Webster Parish church has been charged with indecent behavior of a juvenile following a lengthy investigation by Sheriff’s Office investigators.

Antaeus Stewart, 43, a Heflin resident, was picked up by Bienville Parish deputies Tuesday on a traffic stop and returned to Webster Parish on a Sheriff’s warrant.

He reportedly was booked at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center and released after posting a $75,000 bond.

Major Bobby III, head of the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division, said Det. Raegan Wallace began looking into the case after the office received a complaint from the victim’s parent.

Wallace reportedly viewed text messages showing an illegal relationship between the minister and victim had been ongoing for at least a two-year period, and had begun when the victim was underaged.

Evidence reportedly showed Stewart had purchased the victim a cell phone for the purpose of the messages. Investigators also reportedly recovered more evidence of illegal activities on other of Stewart’s electronic devices.

“This is one of those cases that has to be carefully and completely investigated, and Det. Wallace did a great job of following all the evidence,” Igo said. “But, we’re not finished. There could be additional victims, and we want to continue to follow the evidence.”

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.