Sunday March 20, 2011
Arrested: Joe David Nelms, 47, former youth pastor (and, with his wife, Sunday school teacher), First Baptist Church Lindale, Lindale, Texas; former youth pastor, Sky Ranch, a Christian Bible camp (”that enrich[es] lives and build solid Christian character”), Van, Texas; and former youth pastor, Pacific Coast Church, San Clemente, California; on suspicion of lewd acts with a child; i.e., sexually molesting a girl under the age of 14 between 1993 and 1996, in various locations, including the offices of Pacific Coast Church, where the girl and her family were parishioners. It took this long for the alleged victim, now in her 30s, to “work up the courage” to come forward with the accusation. Currently in custody in Texas, Nelms faces extradition to California; CBS notes: “Although the alleged acts occurred more than 10 years ago, prosecutors are seeking to have the statute of limitations waived because investigators believe there was ’substantial contact,’ the girl was underage and the age difference between the alleged molester and victim, [Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Armomino] said.” Unsurprisingly, Dan Anderson, one of the pastors of Pacific Coast Church, donated $100 to California’s 2008 anti-gay marriage ban, Proposition 8. Story: CBS19.tv (undated); OC Register, March 18, 2011
