A longtime Amarillo pastor was arrested over the weekend following a prostitution sting operation conducted by state law enforcement authorities.
According to Randall County jail records, 42-year-old David Austin Ritchie was arrested Saturday by the Randall County Sheriff’s Office and charged with one count of solicitation of prostitution.
Ritchie has been associated with Redeemer Christian Church in Amarillo since 2011, serving as the church’s lead pastor. Information previously available on the church’s website identified him as a member of the church leadership team. However, as of Monday morning, his biography and leadership profile were no longer listed on the church’s website.
Despite the removal of his profile, Ritchie continued to appear as a featured speaker in church videos posted online, including content published as recently as June 7.
The arrest was part of a larger prostitution sting operation conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Authorities confirmed that eight men were arrested between Friday and Saturday as part of the operation. DPS has not yet released additional details regarding the investigation or the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
Ritchie was booked into the Randall County Jail on the solicitation charge. No further information regarding bond status or court appearances was immediately available.
Redeemer Christian Church has not publicly commented on the arrest. Requests for comment have been submitted to church leadership.
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