A Gwinnett County church has fired a youth pastor jailed on child molestation, statutory rape and sexual battery charges.
Nicholas Kelley, 34, is accused of having an “inappropriate sexual relationship” with a 14-year-old girl while serving as the teen’s counselor at New Bridge Church in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett police Cpl. Deon Washington said Wednesday.
Kelley “began fostering a relationship with the child” in December 2015, and the sexual contact began this summer, police said.
Kelley and the girl met at the church, as well as various Gwinnett parks, Washington said.
The teen’s parents found out about the relationship Monday after she secretly left her house to be with Kelley, had a nervous breakdown and was admitted to the hospital, police said.
Her parents met with church staff Tuesday.
A staff member contacted police, and Kelley was arrested.
In a statement, New Bridge officials told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Kelley had been terminated. He faced a judge Wednesday.
“Thus far, we are confident that this was an isolated incident and no other students were involved,” said the statement from Jeff Lyle, co-lead pastor at New Bridge.
“We leave the justice to the justice system,” Lyle told Channel 2 Action News. “He is out of our hands.”
Police are asking people who attend New Bridge to talk to their children.
"In situations like this where a youth pastor uses his access to children and position to satisfy a sexual appetite, it is always a concern that there are unknown victims,” Washington said. “It is very disturbing that a person would use religion and counseling to exploit a child sexually.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the special victims unit at 770-513-5300.
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