JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 28-year-old McLeansboro man appeared in Jefferson County Court Monday in two separate cases accusing him of child grooming.

Garrett Biggerstaff was a pastor at the time for Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Fairfield, Illinois. He has since been terminated by the church.

Investigations began in September 2022; Benton Police received information from a juvenile who was claiming to be the target of some form of sexual exploitation.

Officers handling the complaint in Benton contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and started a coordinated investigation that ultimately resulted in a search of Biggerstaff’s homes.

Investigators say a collection of evidence revealed that there was a second juvenile victim ad the completed investigation was turned over to the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Arrest warrants were then issued on January 4, 2023, for Biggerstaff’s arrest and he was taken into custody the following day.

According to documents from a board meeting at Spring Garden Consolidated Community School District, Biggerstaff served as the school’s athletic director until his resignation in November, when the case went public.

He’s currently free on bail in both cases and Judge Jo Beth Weber on Monday advised Biggerstaff of potential penalties if he’s convicted and scheduled arraignment hearings for March 28.