32-year-old youth pastor arrested on child sexual assault charges, Mesquite police say

A 32-year-old youth pastor was arrested on charges related to the sexual assault of a child, Mesquite police said Monday.

Conner “Jesse” Penny, a Mesquite resident, was arrested April 5 after police received a report the day before regarding the sexual assault of a child. It was unclear Monday whether he has an attorney.

Police said Penny had continuous sexual contact with a girl under the age of 17 on multiple occasions between 2015 and 2018. Police did not say how old the girl was at the time or now.

He faces one count each of continuous sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child, police said.

Since his arrest, police said, more victims have come forward with other occasions of abuse by Penny between 2013 and 2021. Arrest warrants have been obtained for those incidents, police said.

Information about the other cases was not available Monday.

At the time of his arrest, Penny was employed as a youth pastor at Inspiration Church, formerly known as Mimosa Lane Baptist Church, in Mesquite, police said. Previous employers include the Mesquite Independent School District and the City of Mesquite where he worked as a teacher’s aide and a counselor through the Recreational After School Program, police said.

He is being held at the Dallas County jail on a $2.5 million bail.

Anyone with information regarding Penny or who was a victim of abuse may contact the Mesquite Police Department at 972-285-6336 or Detective Christopherson at lchristo@mesquitepolice.org.