A Tennessee church deacon has been arrested and charged after his wife discovered hidden videos of their teenage babysitter on his cellphone while holding the device for him during a medical procedure, according to police and court records, as reported by The New York Post.
Christopher Thomas Collins, 42, a deacon at Abba’s House in Hixson, Tennessee, was charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators say he secretly recorded nude videos of the teenager inside the family’s bathroom using hidden cameras.
According to court documents obtained by WTVC, Collins’ wife had already suspected her husband of infidelity. Her suspicions deepened when Collins asked her to hold his phone while he underwent a dental procedure.
Tennessee CHURCH DEACON Christopher Thomas Collins, 42, was arrested after hidden camera videos allegedly showed him secretly filming a 15-year-old babysitter in his home; he faces nine felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. pic.twitter.com/rjQBh9CMFJ
— Phoenix Rising (@DKeller56891630) January 16, 2026
While in possession of the phone, she searched through it and found a hidden folder containing explicit videos.
Police said the videos showed the couple’s former teenage babysitter inside the downstairs bathroom of their home.
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Investigators determined the footage was recorded using concealed cameras positioned across from the shower and toilet. In at least one video, police noted the girl appeared to notice the camera while undressing.
When confronted by his wife, Collins initially claimed he installed the cameras to look for rats in the home, according to investigators.
After discovering the videos, Collins’ wife sought guidance from church leadership at Abba’s House. A counselor at the church urged her to contact law enforcement.
For her safety, church officials arranged for her and the couple’s children to stay at a hotel while police investigated the matter, according to Local 3 News.
Law enforcement officers later located Collins during a traffic stop and took him into custody. Police said Collins consented to a search of his cellphone, which was seized along with two SD cards from small cameras and an older cellphone.
Investigators reported finding nine video files dated 2025 that appeared to have been recorded using hidden cameras in the bathroom.
The videos allegedly show the teenager entering and exiting the shower, using the toilet, and changing clothes.
During an interview with police, Collins, who knew the teenage victim, allegedly admitted to recording her, according to investigators.
Following his arrest, Abba’s House removed Collins from his position as a deacon. The church issued a statement confirming it had immediately contacted authorities after learning of the allegations.
“Through the course of a marriage counseling session, Chris Collins’ wife revealed that she had found videos on her husband’s phone of a minor,” the church said in a statement.
“We immediately reported it to the police, and they are handling the situation. We are caring for his wife and kids during this tragic time. Chris Collins had been a member of the church for four years and served as a deacon. He has been removed from that role.”
Collins remains charged with nine felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Court records did not immediately indicate whether he had entered a plea.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review seized devices and evidence.
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