Tallahassee Church Youth Director and Elementary School Employee Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges

The Leon County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a church youth director and elementary school employee following allegations of sexual abuse involving juvenile boys.

Terrance Booker, 40, was taken into custody on August 28, 2025 and booked into the Leon County Detention Facility. He faces one count of lewd and lascivious battery and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of children between the ages of 12 and 16.

Booker was first accused in 2020, when three juvenile male church members reported sexual misconduct. That case was placed in suspended status due to insufficient evidence. On July 17, 2025, a new allegation surfaced, prompting investigators to reopen the case. Authorities say they have now established probable cause for both the earlier and recent allegations.

According to court records, the most recent victim was introduced to Booker through his role as a mentor at church. A woman, whose name was redacted in police reports, asked Booker to mentor the boy. Booker sought permission to invite the youth to his home, assuring that other juveniles his age would also be present. However, investigators say that on some visits, no other children were present, creating opportunities for the alleged abuse to occur. The victim later disclosed that some of the unwanted contact happened during sleepovers at Booker’s residence.

Booker served as a youth director at Life Changers Church of God in Christ, where he had been a member for roughly 15 years and worked with youth for about 10 years. Church co-Pastor Judy Mandrell confirmed that he was suspended from all roles earlier this summer after leaders were made aware of the allegations.

In addition to his church role, Booker was employed by W.T. Moore Elementary School as an assistant director of the extended day program. The Leon County School District placed him on paid leave earlier this week after he disclosed the ongoing investigation. His name and photo were removed from the school’s online directory as news of the arrest broke.

The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with information to come forward. Tips can be submitted by calling the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 606-3300.

Legal Protections for Survivors

Florida law provides important civil remedies for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Survivors may pursue civil lawsuits not only against the perpetrators but also against institutions that failed to protect children in their care. These claims can provide accountability, help prevent future abuse, and compensate survivors for the harm they endured.

Our Commitment to Survivors

At Herman Law, we exclusively represent survivors of sexual abuse in civil lawsuits against the institutions that failed to protect them. We understand the difficulty of coming forward, particularly when the abuse involves trusted figures in schools or faith communities.

Our team is dedicated to helping survivors pursue justice with compassion and aggressive legal advocacy.

Contact Us for a Confidential Consultation

If you, your child, or someone you know may have been harmed by Terrance Booker or another trusted authority figure within an institution, please contact our Florida sexual abuse attorneys. We offer free, confidential consultations and are here to support you every step of the way.

Sources:

Tallahassee Democrat. (2025, August 28). Tallahassee church, school child-care worker arrested on sex-charges — Terrance Booker. Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2025/08/28/tallahassee-church-school-child-care-worker-arrested-on-sex-charges-terrance-booker/85874755007/

WCTV Staff. (2025, August 28). Tallahassee church youth director accused of sexual assault bonds out of jail. WCTV. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://www.wctv.tv/2025/08/28/very-concerning-bond-set-tallahassee-church-youth-director-accused-sexual-assault/