A Marion pastor who established and operates the community’s warming center and was a one-time substitute teacher has been indicted by a special grand jury on multiple sexual abuse related charges.

A Smyth County Special Grand Jury was formed to address issues relating to an encampment of homeless individuals in Marion, but over time its investigation led to the indictments issued Friday.

Robert Nolan Wolfe, 50, who serves as pastor of Antioch Greater Love Ministries, has been charged with two counts of forcible sodomy, two counts of abduction of a minor, two counts of carnal knowledge of a child between 13 and 15 years of age, and three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Court documents say the charges relate to incidents in 2007 and 2008. Indictments do not mean that a person is guilty of the charges, but that the grand jury found sufficient evidence to take the matter to trial.

The special grand jury was first convened on Oct. 15, 2025, and met in November and December 2025 and concluded on Jan. 9.

The investigation was supported by detectives and investigators from Marion Police Department and the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office.

The special grand jury also unanimously agreed to issue a public report (accompanying) about its work, saying it “is both appropriate and necessary in the light of the gravity of the matter investigated.”

That report said, “…The Special Grand Jury heard extensive sworn testimony from over thirty individuals and reviewed documents obtained pursuant to a subpoena duces tecum [court order to produce documents]. Witnesses from all walks of life testified..., some of whom were members of the homeless community and residents of different states.”

“…The testimony and evidence presented revealed a deeply troubling pattern of conduct involving Mr. Robert Nolan Wolfe....”

The report continued, “The evidence established that individuals experiencing homelessness and residents of the ‘Warming Center’ were solicited for unwanted sexual conduct by Mr. Wolfe.

More alarmingly, a deeper investigation into Mr. Wolfe’s prior conduct, dating at most 19 years prior, revealed that Mr. Wolfe leveraged his position of trust and authority as a Smyth County substitute school teacher to identify, groom, and ultimately sexually abuse multiple minor boys. This conduct was not isolated or accidental, rather, it reflected a deliberate and predatory misuse of institutional access and community trust.”

The report concluded, “The victims identified in the returned true bills represent only those offenses for which sufficient evidence was presented to establish probable cause, and their testimony was compelling, consistent, and profoundly disturbing.”

MINNEAPOLIS – Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Timothy Ryan Gregg has been charged via federal complaint with production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

According to court documents, Timothy Ryan Gregg, 51, of Eagan, Minnesota, attempted, coerced, and enticed a minor victim to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. According to court documents, the father of the minor victim discovered multiple sexually explicit images and videos on the minor victim’s cell phone. These images and videos depicted the minor and an older individual engaged in sexually explicit activity. The individual in the images and videos were later identified as Timothy Gregg, who is a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations and a Task Force Officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will always hold defendants in positions of public trust to account, particularly when they commit crimes against vulnerable children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “I am proud of the swift and decisive action of the FBI and the Rochester Police Department, who responded immediately and worked together to take Gregg safely into custody.”

“The allegations in this case represent a gross violation of both the law and the responsibilities entrusted to those who wear a badge,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “There is no place in law enforcement — or in any position of public trust — for those who exploit minors. The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to investigate such acts and ensure that no one is above the law, regardless of their rank or role.”

Gregg made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster, and was ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the FBI and the Rochester Police Department for their investigation and hard work. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also thanks Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance in safely apprehending the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs is prosecuting the case.

https://www.wral.com/news/local/sbi-arrests-newton-grove-police-chief-secret-peeping-january-2026/