(12-5-23) A former Markle, Indiana pastor, Zachry Petree (25), admitted in Huntington Circuit Court yesterday that he asked a 16-year-old girl connected to his congregation for “sexy” pictures while also showing her nude pictures of another woman.
Petree faces up to one year in prison as part of a deal where he pleaded guilty to one felony count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors. Huntington County prosecutors will drop charges of sexual battery and child seduction against Petree if a judge accepts the deal at a scheduled sentencing January 8th.
Petree is also accused of sending pizzas to the girl’s home while he was free on bond, breaking the no contact order issued against him.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on the obstruction of justice charge later this month, where a judge will go over the status of his legal counsel.
After he pleaded guilty the judge revoked his bail and is now incarcerated in the Huntington County Jail.
Petree at the time of the incidents was the pastor of The Field Church, a part of the Church of God Mountain Assembly, in Markle.
Mercer County Outlook 