VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach megachurch pastor charged with solicitation of prostitution from a minor age 16 or older had his preliminary hearing continued again on Tuesday.
John Blanchard is now scheduled to appear in court in the Richmond area on June 23 at 10 a.m.
Blanchard was the senior pastor at Rock Church before “voluntarily” stepping down in November after his arrest on Friday, October 29, 2021.
He was arrested along with 16 other men in a sting operation conducted by authorities from Chesterfield County and charged with solicitation of prostitution from a minor age 16 or older and using a vehicle to promote prostitution or unlawful sex. Police say he tried to solicit sex from an undercover detective who was posing as a minor.
Blanchard was released after his arrest, and was even seen on a Rock Church live broadcast speaking to the congregation two days later. A judge also allowed him to travel out of the state on a business trip while the legal case moves forward.
Blanchard is still listed as a senior pastor on the church’s website and his wife continues to preach at the church.