A former Southern Baptist pastor from the Florida Keys is heading to prison. Monty Chitty, 64, pleaded no contest to sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl and was sentenced to six years. The victim said Chitty gave her a drugged alcoholic drink and assaulted her while she was unconscious. Chitty served as pastor at First Baptist Church of Marathon before his arrest in March 2024.
What makes this case even more unusual is what happened after the allegations surfaced. Chitty skipped his arraignment and drove a white van all the way to Texas. But his run didn’t last long. A member of a church volunteer group recognized him and contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken into custody, extradited back to Florida, and saw his bond jump from $75,000 to $1.3 million.
This story hits close to home for many in rural and faith-based communities. It’s a painful reminder that trusted leaders can sometimes hide dark secrets, and that vigilance is key to protecting our kids. The survivor showed incredible courage in coming forward, and the community’s willingness to speak up helped bring a fugitive to justice. Do you think six years is a fair sentence for a crime like this, or should judges be handing down tougher penalties in cases involving minors?
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
