February 16, 2005

Pastor Arrested for Abuse

ALASKA
KTVA

By Christine Nangle

A youth pastor is charged with sexually abusing a minor in his youth group. The 16-year-old girl confided in another pastor who then tipped off police. Jesse Connella, 28, is in charge the youth activities at Crosspoint Community Church. He is accused of having sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl twice, one time it was in the church van.
According to court documents, Connella, picked up a teenage girl in the church truck took her to Kincaid Park and had intercourse. Afterwards, he dropped her off at a bowling alley and told her not to tell anyone. Records show Conella picked up the minor from school a second time took her to a Church parking lot near Northwood and strawberry for a second time. Police taped a phone conversation, where Conella admitted to the minor they had sex twice. He also told the girl not to worry about getting pregnant because he had surgery so his wife wouldn't get pregnant again.

Posted by kshaw at February 16, 2005 05:10 PM