Former youth pastor Lindsey Whiteside indicted on federal charges

A former youth pastor and assistant basketball coach in Hernando has been indicted on federal charges of transporting a minor across state lines for sex, DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle announced at an Oct. 23 press conference.

Lindsey Whiteside was formerly sentenced to three years of house arrest, followed by seven years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to the sexual battery of a child.

An affidavit obtained by ABC24 alleged that Whiteside had sex with an underage female between May 14, 2024, and Nov. 6, 2024.

During Thursday’s conference, Sheriff Tuggle announced that Whiteside has been indicted on federal charges following a grand jury indictment.

She remains in federal custody and will be tried in the U.S. District Court in Oxford, Mississippi. Sheriff Tuggle stated that a federal judge will determine whether she will remain in custody until her trial date.

Whiteside’s sentence of three years of house arrest became a point of contention for DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton, who filed for Whiteside to be resentenced, arguing that her original sentence was not only an “abomination of justice” but also illegal under Mississippi law.

Following DA Barton’s statements, DeSoto County Circuit Court Judge Andrew K. Howorth, who presided over the case, recused himself, stating that Barton’s comments drew an unusual amount of attention to the case, going on to say that the public scrutiny around the case would impair his ability to make an unbiased decision.

Whiteside’s indictment comes just a day after parents across DeSoto County protested by keeping their children home from school, demanding accountability from district leaders after a school board member over her perceived support for Whiteside.