Former Colorado youth pastor suspected of sexually assaulting child

A former Colorado youth pastor is suspected of sexual assault a child, according to media reports. The incidents were about 200 miles northwest of Colorado Springs.

The 43-year-old pastor was also a teacher at the Heritage Christian School in Steamboat Springs. He’s now being held on $500,000 bond in Routt County Jail.

Law enforcement officials claim the man sexually assaulted a single child on eight occasions.

In court documents, the Chief Deputy District Attorney stated that the man left Steamboat Springs back in 2008 after allegations “about inappropriate contacts with the child” surfaced.

The Routt County Sheriff’s Office said they didn’t learn of the suspicions until last month.

The pastor was arrested in Louisiana and then transported back to Colorado last week when 27 felony charges involving alleged sexual assaults were filed.

Officials say the assaults took place between April of 2006 and May of 2008, when the man was teaching middle school and high school classes at the small, private religious school.

Officials have yet to release details about the child allegedly assaulted, including age and gender and whether the child was a student at the school.

However, one investigator told a Steamboat Springs media outlet that authorities don’t have any reason at this point to believe alleged assaults took place at the school.

The man is also a suspect in a case in Kentucky. He has been charged there with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. He’s accused of sexually assaulting a pair of youths at a church where he was a minister after his departure from Colorado.

A trial there is scheduled to begin May 1, but it’s likely to be rescheduled, officials said.

Source: Steamboat Today: “Routt County sex assault charges related to 1 child victim,” April 20, 2012