Former Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to Two Charges in Sex Abuse Case

By Grant Rodgers
Des Moines Register
February 12, 2014

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20140211/NEWS/302110186/Former-youth-pastor-pleads-guilty-two-charges-sex-abuse-case?nclick_check=1

Ryan Matthew McKelvey

A former Des Moines youth pastor charged with sexually abusing two congregation members pleaded guilty today to two charges in the case, said Polk County Attorney John Sarcone.

Ryan McKelvey, 27, was charged in August with two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of sexual exploitation by a clergy after one of the victims, a 16-year-old female, and her parents reported the abuse to police. Through their investigation, police learned about a second alleged victim.

McKelvey served as a youth pastor at the Heritage Assembly Church at 5051 N.E. Fifth Street. The alleged incidents occurred in McKelvey's home, his vehicle and in one of the victim's home, according to a police report.

In one instance, McKelvey allegedly pushed a victim against a refrigerator and performed a sex act, according to a police report. McKelvey allegedly sent the victim a text message telling her not to report the incident.

The church's pastor had dismissed McKelvey from his job before the

police investigation due to "laziness" and "spending too much time with the female juveniles of the church," according to a police report.

McKelvey will be sentenced on March 24, but his attorney was not immediately available to discuss the charges he pleaded guilty to. The charges are not listed in online court records.

McKelvey had been scheduled to go to trial on Wednesday andremains in the Polk County Jail, according to online jail records.