A former children’s pastor at a church in southern Indiana has received a nine-year prison sentence, after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material.
Aaron Paul Lockman, 24, worked at Redemption Christian Church in Jasper, Ind., from January 2023 until March 12, 2024, the day authorities informed church leaders of their investigation. The church fired Lockman that day and banned him from its three campuses.
The FBI began investigating Lockman after discovering disturbing WhatsApp messages between him and Matthew D. Constant, then-superintendent of Owensboro Public Schools in Kentucky, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Indiana.
Constant was arrested March 11, 2024, for attempting to solicit sexual acts from minors. As the FBI investigated his case, agents discovered that he and Lockman had exchanged child sexual abuse material and discussed their sexual interest in minors.
Investigators found many videos containing sexual abuse of children younger than 12 years old on Lockman’s church-issued computer and cellphone.
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Redemption Christian Church Jasper, Indiana
Redemption Christian Church in Jasper, Indiana. (Photo courtesy of redemption.com)
In his role at Redemption, Lockman supervised young boys and often took them on one-on-one outings, including to restaurants, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“This sick individual placed himself in daily proximity to children and exploited his position as a minister to cultivate special relationships with vulnerable boys,” U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler said. “This office will continue to pursue anyone who preys on children, no matter their title, position, or community standing. Thanks to the swift work of our federal partners, he can no longer endanger the children he targeted and manipulated.”
U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman sentenced Lockman on Feb. 24 to nine years in prison, five years of supervised release and a restitution payment.
“This sentence sends a clear message that anyone who exploits children —especially those who abuse positions of trust within their communities — will be held fully accountable,” said Timothy J. O’Malley, FBI Indianapolis special agent in charge. “Protecting children from predators is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify offenders, support victims, and ensure justice is served.”
Lockman Indiana FBI Redemption
Statement by the Indianapolis FBI regarding the sentencing of Aaron Lockman. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)
Lockman’s attorney, Matthew Lemme, told The Roys Report (TRR) his client “feels great shame and expects no sympathy.”
“Aaron understood from the beginning that his legal problem was greater than what he was accused of doing and what he admitted to doing,” Lemme said. “His behavior understandably placed people in fear that he was doing something else. He cooperated with law enforcement to allow for a full review and inquiry of his actions at the churches where he was employed. It seems that everyone is satisfied that his conduct did not go beyond that raised in court.”
Redemption Christian Church released a statement Feb. 25, outlining its response since learning of the FBI’s investigation two years ago.
The church fired Lockman immediately. Within 48 hours it notified parents and volunteers in the children’s and student ministries of the allegations. It alerted the entire congregation by March 17, 2024.
According to the statement, the church does not have reason to believe Lockman ever victimized a child who attended any of its campuses.
“Lockman passed a background check and reference screening prior to employment,” the statement reads. “Unfortunately, we were among the many in Lockman’s life who were deceived — on many occasions — in this process.”
The church said it was thankful for the “swift and thorough actions” of local and federal law enforcement in “arresting, charging, and convicting Lockman for his horrendous crimes.”
Anyone harmed by Lockman can receive resources and support, including counseling, from the church, according to the statement.
“Redemption remains dedicated to its mission of loving God and loving people and we are steadfast in our commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability,” the statement reads. “We are thankful justice has been and is being served.”
Constant, whose activities led authorities to Lockman, was sentenced in May 2025 to 30 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He was convicted of two counts of online enticement of a minor, three counts of receipt of child sexual abuse material, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of transferring obscene material to a minor.
