Lindsey Whiteside Plea: Ex-DeSoto Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty
In a Lindsey Whiteside plea agreement reached Friday, Sept. 25, the former DeSoto County youth pastor and girls’ basketball assistant coach pleaded guilty in federal court in Oxford to one count of transporting a minor across state lines for sexual purposes. The plea means the long-delayed federal trial will not take place.
Details of the Lindsey Whiteside Plea
Under the agreement, Whiteside admitted to transporting a minor from Tennessee to Mississippi for sexual purposes. Two other federal counts, a second transportation count and a count of coercion and enticement of a minor, were dismissed as part of the deal.
Whiteside remains in federal custody. Sentencing in U.S. District Court is set for Jan. 13, 2027. According to court information reported by Memphis media, she faces:
- A minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison
- A fine of up to $250,000
- At least five years of supervised release
- Registration as a sex offender
Her defense attorney, Joseph Cooper, declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
Allegations Tied to Church Trips
Whiteside previously served as a youth pastor at Getwell Church in Hernando and as an assistant girls’ basketball coach in DeSoto County. Federal court documents said the allegations stemmed from church-related trips in 2024. Prosecutors alleged she groomed the victim and the victim’s family over time to gain their trust before taking the child across state lines. Prosecutors also said she traveled with the girl in a private vehicle rather than on the church bus.
State Case and Federal Delays
Whiteside was first charged in DeSoto County in 2024 with sexual battery of a minor. She pleaded guilty to state charges in October 2025 and was sentenced to three years of house arrest and required to register as a sex offender. That sentence drew criticism from parents across the county.
A federal grand jury indicted her on Oct. 23, 2025. Her federal trial was postponed several times this year before Friday’s plea.
Previous coverage: Trial for Lindsey Whiteside delayed again and Whiteside federal trial date pushed into April.
Source: Action News 5
