#NJ pastor accused of blackmailing teens for nude photos

A depraved New Jersey pastor pretended he was a teen girl on social media to blackmail boys across the country into performing sex acts on themselves for his “sick gratification,” authorities said this week.

Sean Higgins, 30, created Snapchat and Instagram profiles under the alias Julie Miller to target at least six male victims, who range in age from 12 to 15 and live in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Alabama, Burlington County prosecutors allege, NJ.com reported.

Higgins, who is from Palmyra and is a teacher and youth pastor at Harbor Baptist Church in Hainesport, would send the boys images of an unidentified woman, seeking snaps in return, prosecutors allege.

“When a boy would send a nude photo of himself, Higgins would instantly transform and warn the child, ‘I’ve got you,’ and threaten to circulate that photo if the child did not engage in additional sexual acts on camera for Higgins’s sick gratification,” Prosecutor Scott Coffina said this week while announcing Higgins’ Thursday arrest.

Higgins, who is locked up without bail, is charged with 28 counts related to child sex abuse material. He is not charged with having any physical contact with his victims, prosecutors said.