Church Fires Youth Pastor For Alleged Sex With Teen

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A Lawrenceville church has fired a youth minister accused of having sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl.

In a written statement Thursday, leaders at New Bridge Church said Nicholas Kelly was fired at a December 27 meeting, at which they urged him to turn himself in to police.

"Based on information offered by the accused student pastor in the aforementioned meeting, the student pastor was immediately and permanently terminated from his employment at New Bridge Church," read the statement.

Gwinnett County Police say Kelley, 34, began fostering a relationship with the girl through his role as a counselor in December 2015.

This past summer, police say, the relationship turned sexually inappropriate. Sexual contact took place at the church and at various parks in Gwinnett County, police say.

Police say that, on Monday, the victim sneaked out of her house to be with Kelley and had a nervous breakdown when she suspected her parents would find out about the relationship.

This resulted in her being taken to a local hospital, where her family found out about the relationship.

Kelley is being held without bond on charges of child molestation, statutory rape and aggravated sexual battery.

In the written statement, church leaders said they don't know of any other potential victims.

"Thus far, we are confident that this was an isolated incident and no other students were involved," the statement reads. "The activities referenced in the criminal charges occurred outside of scheduled church meetings and events, which allowed the accused to circumvent safety procedures established as church policy to protect our students."

The church said it is providing care and counseling " for the victim and her family, and also for the family of the accused."

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department