Youth Pastor Charged with Sexual Abuse UPDATED

By Regina Zilbermints
Des Moines Register
August 7, 2013

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/08/07/285784/article?nclick_check=1


A former Des Moines youth pastor is charged with sexually abusing two teenage members of the congregation, police said today.

Ryan McKelvey, 27, a former youth pastor at Heritage Assembly Church, 5051 NE Fifth St., was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation by clergy and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

A female victim and her parents reported the abuse to Des Moines police Monday, officials said. While investigating, detectives discovered a second victim, who also confirmed inappropriate sexual incidents had occurred.

Authorities declined to say where the incidents occurred but said none occurred at the church.

McKelvey was arrested at his home on Tuesday. He remains in the Polk County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

McKelvey has no criminal record in Iowa, according to online court records. It wasn’t immediately clear how long he had lived in the state.

Church officials and police have declined to provide many additional details, citing the still-open case.

“At this point, this is still an ongoing investigation,” said Des Moines Police Sgt. Daniel Blom. “Even though he has been arrested more details will be investigated by detectives.”

Officials did not release the teenager’s specific ages or how many incidents allegedly occurred.

Police and church officials also couldn’t say how long McKelvey had been a pastor at the church or what his specific duties were.

Church officials said they didn’t want to release any information at the risk of hindering the investigation.

“We are working diligently with law enforcement and our prayers and concerns are obviously going out to the families,” read a statement from the church’s board.

Police said church officials have been “very cooperative.”