Dec 31, 2024- DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton Tuesday confirmed a church youth ministry leader was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of sexual battery of a minor child by a person of trust or authority.
The indictment was made by the December grand jury against Lindsey Whiteside, who had served as a youth leader at the Getwell Church campus in Hernando.
“While this is an ongoing case, and we must be careful not to disclose information that could compromise the victim’s privacy, we can confirm that the December Grand Jury of DeSoto County has indicted Lindsey Whiteside on the charge of sexual battery of a minor child by a person of trust or authority,” Barton said in a statement.
Lindsey Whiteside
Barton did not elaborate further on the particulars of the incident. Whiteside’s name no longer appears on the church’s website as a staff member.
Lindsey Whiteside had a successful career as a basketball player, first at DeSoto Central and then at Northpoint Christian School, where she was part of two TSSAA Division II-A state championship teams, in 2016 and in 2017.
From there, Whiteside played two seasons at Rhodes College and the last two seasons at Lipscomb University, in Nashville, Tenn.
Returning to DeSoto County, she was an assistant on the girls’ basketball team before turning to ministry work at the Getwell Church location in Hernando.
Barton, in his statement, asked that others who may have information about the case come forward.
“We understand that coming forward as a victim can be incredibly difficult, especially in cases involving trusted figures,” Barton said. “We urge anyone who may have been affected by this individual’s actions or who may have information related to this case to come forward. Every victim deserves to be heard, and our office is committed to ensuring their voices are not silenced.”
Whit Cooper of the Farese. Farese, and Farese P.A. firm, representing Whiteside, did not have a comment when contacted Tuesday evening, saying that he does not comment on pending litigation.
Whiteside’s father is the late Shan Whiteside, who was the first basketball coach at DeSoto Central before he passed away at the age of 34 in 2006 from cancer. The DeSoto Central gymnasium is named for Shan Whiteside.
