Jeffrey Summers

Former Pastor and School Aide Convicted in Volusia County Sting

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – A Volusia County jury has convicted Jeffrey Cullen Summers, 52, on multiple counts related to the sexual solicitation of a child. The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, followed a two-day trial that detailed an undercover operation targeting online predators.

Summers was found guilty of:

  • Traveling to Meet a Minor
  • Solicitation of a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
  • Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device

The Investigation: “Operation Full Throttle”

The case originated in March 2025 during “Operation Full Throttle,” an undercover sting conducted by the Port Orange Police Department during Bike Week.

According to evidence presented at trial, an undercover detective created a profile on a dating app portraying a 14-year-old boy. Summers engaged the profile through direct messages and eventually made plans to meet the “minor” in Port Orange for sexual activity. Summers was arrested by waiting officers as soon as he arrived at the meeting location.+1

A Breach of Trust

At the time of his arrest, Summers held two prominent positions in the community that granted him access to children and families:

  1. Education: He was a paraprofessional at Horizon Elementary School in Port Orange, where he worked with Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students.
  2. Religion: He served as a pastor at New Hope Baptist Church. (Records also indicate he previously served as a pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, GA, for nearly a decade).

State Attorney R.J. Larizza noted the gravity of the defendant’s background following the verdict:

“The sad reality is that sex offenders often gravitate to positions that put them in contact with children. This defendant will be dealt with accordingly at sentencing.”

Sentencing and Penalties

The trial was presided over by the Honorable Leah Case, who will pronounce the sentence at a later hearing. Under Florida law, Summers faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Following his release from prison, Summers will be required to register as a Florida Sex Offender for life and will likely face strict probation terms prohibiting contact with minors or employment in schools and churches.

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