Ex-Baltimore County youth pastor pleads guilty to sexual abuse of a minor

A former youth pastor in Baltimore County faces up to four years in prison after admitting to sexually abusing a teen between 2007 and 2009.

Thomas Pinkerton Jr., who used to work at Central Christian Church in Rossville, appeared Monday before Baltimore County Circuit Judge Marc DeSimone Jr. for what was scheduled to be the start of his trial. Instead, he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor.

Outside the courtroom, Pinkerton’s attorney, Justin Hollimon, said his client decided to accept a plea agreement because it will allow him to eventually return home.

“Sometimes, in the criminal justice system, you have to make tough decisions,” Hollimon said. “While he still denies the allegations, he understands that it was in his best interest to resolve the case.”

DeSimone agreed to sentence Pinkerton to 25 years in prison but suspend most of that time. According to the plea agreement, Pinkerton will serve no more than four years, and he can argue for even less at his sentencing on Dec. 14.

When Pinkerton is released from prison, he will spend five years on probation and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The victim, who knew Pinkerton through the church, told investigators in 2024 that the youth pastor massaged his neck and back, held his hands and, when he was 14 or 15, touched his genitals, Baltimore County Police reported. The Banner does not identify survivors of sexual abuse without their permission.

In a previous statement, Central Christian Church wrote that Pinkerton was a staff member more than 15 years ago and left to start his own ministry.

“This news is deeply heartbreaking,” Larry Kirk, the church’s lead pastor, said in the statement. “We are committed to walking alongside these young men with compassion and support.”

Pinkerton pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a single victim. But Assistant State’s Attorney Michael DeStefano said he plans to bring a total of seven men who reported that Pinkerton victimized them to speak at the sentencing.

The sentencing guidelines called for a punishment of four to nine years in prison, DeStefano said.

Pinkerton, 52, now of Winder, Georgia, is being held in the Baltimore County Detention Center without bail.