‘Biblical Flat Earth Society’ founder is charged with 56 counts of child exploitation

Fundamentalist Christian and self-proclaimed founder of the “Biblical Flat Earth Society,” Phillip Stephen Stallings, was arrested this week and charged with 56 counts of child sexual exploitation, as reported by local news station WTDV.

The 40-year-old Durham, North Carolina resident is facing dozens of charges for sexually exploiting minors for allegedly downloading media that involved minors engaged in sexual situations and sharing this illegal media on social platforms.

He was arrested on Wednesday morning at his home by Durham County deputies as a part of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigation, according to WRAL.com.

“It’s part of an investigation across the nation right now for possession of child pornography and creation of child pornography,” said Durham County Assistant District Attorney Kendra Montgomery-Blinn during a short court hearing on Thursday morning. “They had information that Mr. Stallings was sharing his materials on a social media platform.”

Stallings faces 28 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and 28 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor after being caught with child pornography. He has also been served with a warrant related to both cyberstalking and financial card theft.

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His personal website, on which he refers to himself as a “reformed Christian Apologist, Theonomist, Kinist and a former seminary student,” is largely dedicated to his belief that the earth is flat, which uses the Bible to support his opinion. His website also espouses that there is an Illuminati conspiracy to cover up the truth about the flat earth, which relates to ancient sun-worshipping cults.

Stallings is an ebook author and also has a YouTube channel where he covers topics such as feminism, transvestites, and women in the military.

He has been taken to the Durham County Detention Center. On Thursday, the judge raised his secured bond from $341,000 to $500, 000. More charges are possible depending on that the ongoing investigation uncovers. If Stallings posts bond, he will be prohibited from any contact with children, as well as from using any computers or smart devices that could allow him access to any photos or videos.

According to the state Department of Public Safety Records, this is not Stallings first run-in with the law. Between 1996 and 2008 he was convicted of several offenses, including assault of a female, assault of an officer, and credit card fraud.

Featured image via Durham County Sheriff’s Office

Isadora Teich

Isadora Teich is a freelance writer and digital nomad who has worked in web marketing, digital branding, entertainment, and news. When not writing or traveling she is probably doing yoga, learning Spanish, or experimenting in the kitchen.