Police: Hopatcong youth church leader Snapchatted explicit photo to teen

A church youth leader is facing charges after police said he sent an explicit photo to a teenager through the social media app Snapchat.

Police Detective David Krause received information on Sept. 26 that a youth leader from a church outside of Hopatcong was sending inappropriate pictures and messages to a teenage girl, Capt. Thomas Kmetz said. Police would not reveal the name of the church. 

According to police records, representatives of the church reported to police they learned youth leader Michael De Block, 32, of Hopatcong, was communicating with a youth student outside of meetings in an inappropriate manner. 

An investigation by Krause and Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office Det. Thomas Laird concluded De Block sent at least one picture of his genitals along with inappropriate messages to the teen while she was outside of the church through Snapchat, according to police.

De Block was arrested and charged with obscenities to a minor and endangering a minor. He was later released.

The unnamed church, police said, had precautions in place that limited communication with students to meetings only. Co-ed pairings of leaders and students were also not permitted.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com