Former teacher and church youth leader convicted of child sex crimes

Aaron Doyle Mirtsching, 42, a former teacher and church youth leader in Burke County, will spend at least 31 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex crimes on Tuesday (Sept. 10).

Mirtsching pleaded guilty to three counts of statutory indecency with a child, one count of statutory indecency with a 13- to 15-year-old, and five counts of indecency with a minor. He was sentenced to 31 to 46 years in prison.

In 2023, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office investigated a cyber tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Following the investigation, the first arrest warrants were issued for Mirtsching on three counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Mirtsching was arrested last August.

Mirtsching previously worked as a teacher at New Dimensions Charter School and as a youth leader at Thrive Church.