BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former Bentonville youth pastor has been arrested on a charge of sexual indecency with a child, according to Nathan Smith, Benton County Prosecutor.

According to authorities, Keenan Hord, 32, was arrested August 25 and booked into the Benton County Jail. He is also charged with second degree sexual assault and possessing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. He previously worked at First Baptist Church in Bentonville.

Hord previously worked at First Baptist Church in Bentonville. According to Smith, the church contacted the child abuse hotline immediately upon hearing of allegations against Hord.

The church is reportedly cooperating with the investigation and it released a statement in response to Hord’s arrest:

We have been devastated to learn that a former employee of our church has been credibly accused of abusing adolescents during his tenure at our church.  While these accusations did not come to light until after his employment ended, when we learned of them we immediately contacted our local authorities, made a report to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline, and continue to fully support the ongoing law enforcement investigation.  We are ministering to the survivors and their families who demonstrated incredible courage in coming forward.  We are praying for God’s perfect peace for those who have been harmed and God’s justice for the abuse of His people.

First Baptist Church in Bentonville

According to a probable cause filing, Bentonville Police seized “multiple electronic devices” from Hord’s residence and officers also conducted forensic interviews. Conversations and video were recovered from Hord’s phone and police also obtained surveillance video of Hord inside a home.

On August 26, a $500,000 cash bond was set for Hord.

If anyone has any information pertaining to this investigation, contact the Bentonville Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division non-emergency number at (479) 271-3170.