A youth minister is accused of a sexual relationship with a teenage girl at his church in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, according to a criminal complaint.
"Both of us knew it was wrong," 33-year-old Brian Keith Smith told police, according to the complaint.
The girl said she met Smith when he recruited her for a church group known as the Joshua Project, and she began to exchange text messages with him after she joined the group at the Journey By Grace church on Route 51, according to the complaint.
"These messages consisted of messages regarding church schedules. The victim also stated she would seek counseling from the defendant in regards to personal issues in her life," police wrote in the complaint. "At this point in time, the victim reported that the defendant began driving her home from church after youth group meetings. The victim stated in late fall of 2013 they began to frequently send text messages to each other. Victim stated that soon after the frequent text messages, the defendant would drive her home. While driving, the defendant would stroke the victim's face which encouraged intimacy."
Smith and the girl kissed in February when she was 15, and their subsequent meetings escalated to include touching and then sex acts at the church, police said in the complaint.
In the summer, the girl started going to church with Smith on days when there were no functions, under the pretense of cleaning the church, and they engaged in sex acts in a room near the youth room, according to the complaint.
Resetar said officers are now investigating the possibility that other sexual acts occurred off the property of Journey by Grace.
The complaint says that Smith's charges include aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 16 and possession of child pornography -- both felonies -- and corruption of minors, which is a low-level misdemeanor.
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Resetar said Smith was previously investigated in another state for a similar case, but no charges were ever filed. Resetar said his officers are going to reach out to the previous investigating agency to ask them to reopen their case.
Youth pastor accused of sex acts with teenager at Rostraver Township church | Local News - WTAE Home
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