Lutheran church leader accused of molesting 2-month-old girl while changing her diaper

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA/Gray News) - A Lutheran church leader from Indiana is accused of molesting a 2-month-old girl while changing her diaper.

Josiah Junkin, a 27-year-old Lutheran church vicar in Fort Wayne, is charged with one count of child molesting. He is being held at the Allen County Jail and faces a potential prison sentence of up to 12 years.

The Fort Wayne investigation stemmed from allegations against Junkin in Michigan, in which he allegedly admitted to molesting a 2-month-old girl, according to court records. A woman told police Junkin admitted to molesting the girl in 2024 while changing her diaper.

The woman reported Junkin had a pornography addiction, including child sexual abuse material, since he was a child. She said he went to therapy and counseling and would tell her almost immediately if he would “relapse,” court documents say.

A detective investigating the allegations in Michigan said Junkin admitted to molesting the girl in Fort Wayne.

A man who also spoke to Junkin reported that they had a conversation in which the suspect told him about four times he molested the girl, court records show. The man reported Junkin to authorities in Michigan, and a woman reported the allegations to the Indiana Department of Child Services after learning about the incident.

During the investigation, police spoke to a person who sent photos of Junkin’s journal from the “7 Pillars of Freedom,” a program for sex addicts. In it, Junkin allegedly checked that his sexual behavior puts him at risk for arrest and that his sexual fantasies included molesting and rape.

When police attempted to speak to Junkin, he declined to do an interview but said he would turn himself in once there was a warrant for his arrest.