A youth pastor at New Bridge Church in Lawrenceville has been arrested after he was allegedly involved in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl at the church.
Gwinnett County police said Nicholas Kelley, 34, faces charges of child molestation, statutory rape and aggravated sexual battery.
"Kelley began fostering a relationship with the child as a counselor in December 2015," said Cpl. Deon Washington in a press statement. "This past summer, the relationship turned sexually inappropriate. The sexual contact took place at the church and at various parks in Gwinnett County."
The press statement said the relationship came to light this week when the girl suffered a nervous breakdown, fearing her parents would discover the relationship. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and at that time, the girl's parents were made aware of the relationship.
On Tuesday, December 27, Kelley met with the pastoral staff at New Bridge Church and confessed to them. The staff contacted police and Kelley was ultimately arrested
"Though detectives do not have specific information about additional victims, we strongly urge adults who attend this church to have a serious conversation with their children about their contact with Kelley," said Washington. "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. It is very disturbing that a person would use religion and counseling to exploit a child sexually."
The phone number for the Gwinnett County Police Department's Special Victims Unit is 770-513-5300.
