(Lawrenceville, Georgia) Gwinnett County Police have arrested 34 year old Nicholas Kelley for charges stemming from an inappropriate sexual relationship with a fourteen year old female. Kelley is a youth pastor at New Bridges Church in Lawrenceville. Kelley began fostering a relationship with the child as a counselor in December 2015. This past summer, the relationship turned sexually inappropriate. The sexual contact took place at the church and at various parks in Gwinnett County.

On December 26^th the victim snuck out of her house to be with Kelley and had a nervous breakdown when she suspected her parents would find out about the relationship. This resulted in her being taken to the hospital. Her parents found out about the relationship while the victim was being treated at the hospital. On December 27^th Kelley met with the pastoral staff at New Bridges Church and told them about the relationship. The pastoral staff contacted police and Kelley was ultimately arrested and is being held without bond for the charges listed below. 

• Child Molestation
• Statutory Rape
• Aggravated Sexual
• Battery

Though detectives do not have specific information about additional victims, we strongly urge adults who attend this church to have a serious conversation with their children about their contact with Kelley. In situations like this where a youth pastor uses his access to children and position to satisfy a sexual appetite, it is always a concern that there are unknown victims. It is very disturbing that a person would use religion and counseling to exploit a child sexually.

If anyone has any information to share in this case, or if there is a need to report a separate incident, please contact the Special Victims Unit at 770-513-5300.

Because this incident is an act of “child abuse” as described in 49-5-40, the report and additional details about the investigation are confidential.