Youth Pastor Charged, Accused of Having Sexual Relationship with 16-year-old

By Lisa Washington
CBS Pittsburgh
October 22, 2015

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/10/22/youth-pastor-charged-accused-of-having-sexual-relationship-with-16-year-old/

A local youth pastor has been arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

East Brady First Baptist Church youth pastor David Pesci has been charged with sexual assault and corruption of minors.

New Bethlehem Police say the relationship started when the girl began attending a youth group at the church when she was in ninth grade. She said that Pesci, 24, was her youth pastor.

According to the complaint, the teen went on to say that the two of them began texting and messaging on Facebook less than a year ago. She said she had a fight with her best friend and was looking for advice from Pesci.

Over the months, the 16-year-old said she became very close with him and would regularly spend the night at Pesci’s home, the church parsonage along with other youth group members and Pesci’s wife.

She stated that the first time Pesci kissed her was when she was staying over at his house this past winter. She was staying over Pesci’s home along with other youth group members.

Since that night, she claims that the kissing continued, including two occasions where Pesci allegedly kissed the teen in the church, near the pulpit.

She also said the two were at the East Brady Park on Aug. 26. On that night, the teen said Pesci touched her sexually on the outside of her clothes.