Lawrenceville Youth Minister Arrested For Sex With Teen

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A youth minister at a Lawrenceville church has been arrested for sexual misconduct with a 14 year old.

Nicholas Kelley, 34, is youth pastor at New Bridges Church in Lawrenceville.

Gwinnett County Police say Kelley 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.

On Tuesday, Kelley met with the pastoral staff at New Bridges Church and told them what had been happening. The staff contacted police and Kelley was arrested.

He's being held without bond on charges of child molestation, statutory rape and aggravated sexual battery.

Police say detectives have no information about additional victims, but urge adults who attend the church to have a conversation with their children about their contact with Kelley.

"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," Gwinnett County Police spokesman Cpl. Deon Washington said in a news release. "It is very disturbing that a person would use religion and counseling to exploit a child sexually."

If anyone has any information to share in this case, or if there is a need to report a separate incident, they may contact the Special Victims Unit at 770-513-5300.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department