A Tennessee church deacon was arrested after his wife discovered explicit videos of their teenage babysitter on his phone while he underwent a dental procedure, according to police.
Christopher Thomas Collins, 42, a deacon at Abba’s House in Hixson, Tennessee, has been charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after his wife reported the videos to authorities.
Court documents obtained by WTVC say Collins’ wife had grown suspicious that he was cheating. When he asked her to hold his phone during the appointment, she searched it and found a hidden folder containing nude videos of their former babysitter, investigators said.
Police allege the videos were recorded inside the couple’s downstairs bathroom using small hidden cameras placed across from the shower and toilet. In at least one video, the teen appeared to notice the camera while undressing, according to investigators.
Collins initially claimed he installed the cameras to look for rats, his wife told authorities.
After finding the videos, she went to Abba’s House for guidance. A counselor there encouraged her to contact police, and the church helped place her and the children in a hotel while officers searched for Collins, according to Local 3 News. He was later arrested during a traffic stop.
Investigators seized Collins’ cellphone and searched it with his consent. Police also obtained two SD cards from small cameras and an older cellphone.
Authorities said they found nine video files timestamped in 2025 that appear to show the teen entering and exiting the shower, using the toilet, and changing clothes.
During an interview with police, Collins — who knew the teen — allegedly admitted to recording her, investigators said.
Following his arrest, Abba’s House removed him from his deacon role.
“Through the course of a marriage counseling session, Chris Collins’ wife revealed that she had found videos on her husband’s phone of a minor,” the church said in a statement.
“We immediately reported it to the police and they are handling the situation. We are caring for his wife and kids during this tragic time. Chris Collins had been a member of the church for four years and served as a deacon. He has been removed from that role.”
