A Hixson church removed one of its deacons after he was arrested on nine charges of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.
Christopher Thomas Collins, 42, was an official volunteer of Abba’s House until the allegations, after which he was removed from his role, according to pastor Ronnie Phillips Jr. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office arrested Collins on Wednesday after his wife became suspicious of him and searched his phone, an arrest report said.
Collins powered his phone off before an emergency tooth surgery before handing it to his wife, she told police. She found that odd and powered the device on before searching the photo gallery and hidden files. She discovered around eight or nine videos and one still photo containing explicit material of a young girl.
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The wife knew the girl as a family acquaintance who recently stayed overnight at the couple’s house. Collins’ wife thought her husband installed cameras inside the downstairs bathroom. She told police the minor appeared to notice the camera and was seen using the shower and toilet, according to the arrest report.
Around 30 minutes after finding the files, Collins’ wife confronted him inside the couple’s vehicle. He ignored her at first, the arrest report said, and then claimed the cameras were to capture rats in the ceiling.
“She further reported that her husband stated he had forgotten the cameras were recording and claimed he hid the files from her to avoid jealousy,” the arrest report said.
The woman told detectives she sought guidance from staff at Abba’s House church. The staff encouraged her to contact law enforcement. Due to the risk of evidence destruction, police arrested her husband at a traffic stop on Hixson Pike that evening. He allegedly gave police consent to search his phone and home, according to the arrest report.
He acknowledged and waived his rights during an interview with police, the arrest report said. In the interview, he allegedly admitted to knowing the camera’s operations and placement. Police said he also admitted to viewing the nude image, keeping it for some time and then deleting it.
Police said the videos were timestamped in 2025 and that the content was taken without the knowledge or consent of the juvenile, where she had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Forensic analysis and investigation into the content is ongoing, police said, and more evidence could be found.
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According to Phillips, the Abba’s House pastor, Collins’ wife came into the church for marriage counseling around noon Wednesday. She advised him that she found videos on her husband’s phone of a 15-year-old nude girl recorded from the woman’s home in Hamilton County.
Phillips told her the church would have to contact authorities immediately, as the accusation involved a minor.
“We wish we knew what people had going on in their private lives, but we don’t,” Phillips said. “But when we hear of something that’s allegedly evil, all we can do is what we are supposed to do.”
The church allowed city and county detectives and Child Protective Services to interview the woman, Phillips said.
It’s been a difficult season for the church, Phillips said.
Abba’s House grieved the loss of a member’s son, who was shot and killed in Seattle in the fall. The church’s focus is on the alleged victims, he said, and the members are praying for peace in the situation.
“Our focus must be on the alleged victims, the people that are hurting most during this season,” he said. “It shouldn’t be on opinions or protecting an organization.”
The church paid for a hotel for Collins’ wife, and it’s going to pay for counseling and cover her bills until she can get back on her feet, Phillips said. The next steps are up to the police and courts to determine.
Collins is being held in jail on a $450,000 bond. He did not immediately respond to a voicemail requesting comment.
Contact breaking news reporter Mason Edwards at medwards@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6409.