Former pastor pleads guilty to attempted sexual offense

TRENT HOLBERT SENTENCED ON FELONY CHARGES

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
January 26, 2023

Former Black Mountain pastor, Trent Holbert, was sentenced to 94 to 173 months in state prison, Jan. 25, after pleading guilty to a felony attempted statutory sexual offense. Photo courtesy of the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office

A former Black Mountain pastor will serve time in prison, following a plea agreement, the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office announced, Jan. 25. 

Trent Holbert, who was arrested in May of 2021 by the Special Victims Unit of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department and charged with multiple crimes, was sentenced to 94 to 173 months in state prison for a felony attempted statutory sexual offense. The plea agreement was approved by the victim, the district attorney said in a statement on social media. 

The former pastor of The Ridge Church was arraigned on charges of statutory sex offense with a minor and one felony count of indecent liberties with a child in October of 2021. 

As a result of the plea deal, Holbert is required to register as a sex offender for 30 years and pay approximately $1,800 in restitution. In addition, he is ordered to have no contact with the victim for the remainder of his natural life.