Pekin's Nicholas Lawrence, a Former Youth Pastor, Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse
By Andy Kravetz
A former youth pastor pleaded guilty Friday to charges that he sexually abused a young girl last year. Nicholas Lawrence, 27, of Pekin, pleaded in Peoria County Circuit Court to one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child in an agreement that saw a lesser charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse dropped. Also, a companion charge that alleged Lawrence possessed child porn was dropped as part of the plea agreement. The agreement is a “blind,” one which means there’s no agreement as to what sentence Lawrence might receive next month. The sentencing range is six to 60 years in prison with no possibility of probation. Prosecutor Donna Cruz told Judge David Brown that the girl, then 12, was abused by Lawrence for several months. The two had met through church services years before. The child pornography charges, which were dropped, had been the subject of a motion to dismiss by Lawrence’s attorney, Sam Snyder, who contended the charges were improperly brought in Peoria County as the pictures were stored on Lawrence’s computer in Pekin. Police investigations revealed Lawrence had built a sexual relationship with the young girl over four years in contacts with her through youth Bible study classes at three churches, two in Peoria Heights and at the First Church of God in Pekin, the affidavit stated. He had been affiliated with Peoria Heights Congregational Church and Mount Hawley Community Church, according to Journal Star archives and Tazewell County court records. The assault as charged in the Peoria County case allegedly occurred from November 2013 until May 2014. Cruz said the plea in Peoria County had no effect on similar cases pending in Tazewell County Circuit Court. Andy Kravetz can be reached at 686-3283 and akravetz@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @andykravetz.
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