Youth ministry intern held on child molestation charges

By Jennifer Sami
DawsNews
March 19, 2014

http://www.dawsonnews.com/section/5/article/14366/

CUMMING - A church youth ministry intern remained in the Forsyth County Detention Center on Wednesday following his arrest on felony counts of child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

According to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, 28-year-old Sean E. Paul of Dawsonville turned himself in Friday. No bond has been set.

In addition to the two felony counts, he also faces one misdemeanor charge of electronically furnishing obscene material to a minor.

Paul was an intern for the youth minister at First Christian Church on Sawnee Drive in Cumming.

Stan Percival, the lead pastor of the church, said Paul "immediately resigned" from the position, which he had held for less than a year, when confronted with the allegations.

Percival said the church "immediately informed the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office" about the matter and shared information with its congregation Sunday.

"If the allegations were true, I think any church would be devastated ... and I would be as well," Percival said.

According to the sheriff's office, the alleged victim had become acquainted with Paul through the church.

Sheriff Duane Piper said the investigation is ongoing, as "we believe there could be additional victims."

Percival hopes that's not the case.

"As far as we know, there is no other minor in the church involved in this matter," he said. "To our understanding, it was texting, and we are unaware of any allegations of physical contact."