Former Youth Minister Facing Corruption Charges

By Jackie De Tore And Suzanne Goldklang
WNEP
February 4, 2015

http://wnep.com/2015/02/03/former-youth-minister-facing-corruption-charges/

WHITE HAVEN — A former youth pastor in Luzerne County is facing charges after a teenage girl said they had a relationship.

Adam D’Albero, 34, of Drums is charged with corruption of minors and sexual contact with a minor for an alleged relationship with a 13-year-old girl. He faced a magistrate Tuesday afternoon for the first time.

D’Albero was arraigned around 2:30 p.m. at a magistrate’s office outside Hazleton.

White Haven police said D’Albero had a relationship with a teenage girl. They said it started in 2011 and went on for about a year.

At the time, D’Albero was the leader of a youth group at the Mountain View Community Church.

According to court papers, the girl told police D’Albero would kiss her on the lips and touch her rear end. She also said he sent her text messages all day and night.

According to authorities, D’Albero ended the relationship in 2012, telling the victim he could get in big trouble for what he was doing and that his wife at the time had seen the messages.

During the time of that alleged relationship, D’Albero left the Mountain View Community Church to open the Wellspring Life Center in White Haven which was another youth group.

That center has since closed.

A White Haven man occasionally saw D’Albero at church music events.

“It is surprising anybody doing that is surprising,” said Jeff Shrader.

People we spoke with in White Haven were dismayed to learn the news saying if a church youth leader can be accused like this who can they trust?

“They are supposed to be trusted, very trusted, they kind of throw all of it out the window you don’t know who you can trust,” said Ashley Kirk, White Haven.

“I think that is disgusting and crazy. Yeah that’s crazy,” said Hunter Pitman, Dennison Township.

Newswatch 16 did put several calls into the church but have not yet heard back.