MS Coast worship leader and former Realtor to plead guilty in UK-linked child porn case

A Mississippi Coast worship leader and former real estate agent will plead guilty in November after being accused of producing and distributing child pornography.

Saucier resident Tyler Selby, 34, was first arrested in September 2023 on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession and production of child pornography.

A federal grand jury later indicted him in October on one count each of distribution of visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit sexual intercourse by a parent and one count of production of child pornography.

Selby appeared in federal court in Gulfport on Wednesday on charges that could send him to prison for life.

His lawyer notified the court of Selby’s intention to press charges. The plea date was set in November before Judge Louis Guirola.

British investigators warned US officials

Arrest of Saucier, former minister of Robinwood Baptist Church, following investigation Homeland Security Investigation’s Cyber ​​Crime Center After the agency received a tip from the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom that a Skype user, later identified as Selby, was producing child pornography and sharing it with someone in the United Kingdom.

Records say Selby, identified as Skpye user “cj dereks,” shared the child pornography he produced over the Internet with a person in the United Kingdom who “posed online (as an underage girl) to obtain child sexual abuse material.”

The UK user, identified by the pseudonym “Emma Long”, pretends to be a 17-year-old girl to persuade followers like Selby to sexually abuse children and send videos of the abuse for distribution over the Internet. To attract Selby, the anonymous user shared a video that authorities say shows Emma’s 5-year-old sister performing sexually explicit acts.

During the investigation in the United Kingdom, federal investigators discovered online video footage of Selby masturbating in a bathtub with a small, naked child next to him. In the 20-minute video, Selby instructs the boy to wash Selby’s genitals with a washcloth.

Selby, who also works as a Realtor in Jackson County, allegedly committed the crime at a home for sale in Jackson County.

HSI researcher testified

Following Selby’s arrest, HSI special agent Danyelle Evans said federal agents identified Selby as a suspect after tracking his images from his driver’s license and social media accounts.

A database search later led authorities to a home in South Mississippi where Selby lived with his family and worked as a worship leader at a Baptist church in Saucier.

In addition to his job as a worship leader, Selby worked for a pest control company and also worked in real estate sales, authorities said.

Authorities staked out Selby’s home and arrested him after retrieving a portable electronic device, or USB drive, on a lanyard from the car.

According to the investigator, it is common for child pornography suspects to store images and videos on USB drives and other electronic devices so they can carry them with them.

Selby has remained in jail since his arrest.

Following his arrest, the pastor of Robinwood Baptist Church announced that Selby had been fired from his job there.

“We are deeply saddened by the recent developments regarding Mr. Selby,” said Pastor Brad Smith. “He lied to us during the interview process and should never have applied for this position. Despite an extensive background check, it did not and would not reveal what Mr. Selby had deliberately concealed. We have zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior, especially from people in positions of authority. We will never protect anyone who wants to harm or take advantage of children.