Ex-youth Pastor Charged with Sexual Assault on Girl

Butler Eagle
October 22, 2015

http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20151021/NEWS12/710229880

A former youth pastor at an East Brady church is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in his charge.

New Bethlehem police on Monday arrested David T. Pesci, 24, of East Brady, alleging he kissed and fondled the teen, a member of his youth group at the East Brady First Baptist Church, on three occasions beginning last year.

District Judge Jeffrey Miller arraigned Pesci on three felony counts each of sexual assault by a volunteer or employee of a nonprofit organization and corruption of minors. He remains free on $10,000 bail.

In an e-mail statement this morning, the church said that Pesci resigned as youth pastor July 5.

At a church sleepover in early 2014, the teen recounted, Pesci kissed her in his home, which is the church parsonage.

The two kissed on at least two other occasions she told police, documents said.

The teenager also accused Pesci of touching her in a sexual manner in August at the East Brady Park.

Butler attorney Al Lindsay, who represents Pesci, said he looked forward to challenging the charges at his client’s preliminary hearing on Tuesday at Miller’s office in New Bethlehem.

In its statement, the church said, “We at East Brady Baptist Church are saddened by the allegations involving our former youth pastor and are deeply grieved by even the thought of anyone being harmed in association with our ministry.

“We continue to pray for everyone involved in this situation, knowing that the grace and healing power of God are always at work among the hurting.”