Sex Offender Uses ‘YouVersion’ Bible Smartphone App To Befriend Teenage Girls Of Christian Youth Group, Arrested

A 50-year-old sex offender, accused of using the "YouVersion" Bible app to target underage girls, has been arrested, the media reported.

Officials have accused Douglas Earl Kersey, 50, of using the YouVersion Bible App to solicit young girls at a Hillsborough County Christian youth group, according to an arrest warrant, Gizmodo reported on Wednesday (6 November) citing the ABC News.

The court documents reportedly state Kersey was using the Bible app to "befriend" young teenage girls in the church and communicate with them online.

The incident came to light, according to ABC News, when a tipster observed that Kersey had sent friend requests to minors in their church group. The officials searched his name on the sex offenders registry and decided to take action.

As a registered sex offender, Kersey was supposed to disclose to local law enforcement the email addresses and social media accounts he is using. That apparently includes his Bible app activity, according to ABC News.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)