ROSTRAVER, Pa. — A youth pastor at a Rostraver Township church is in the Westmoreland County Prison for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a teenage girl.
Brian Keith Smith, 33, of Washington Township, Fayette County, is accused of recruiting the girl to a Journey By Grace church youth group. Rostraver Township police allege that the pair began exchanging text messages shortly after she joined the group in late fall of 2013.
Sexual contact allegedly began in February at the Route 51 church and continued until early July, police said.
Smith admitted to Officer Martin Palla that both he and the victim "knew it was wrong," according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Journey By Grace Pastor Bill Bailey declined to speak to Channel 11 Monday.
He released a statement that said in part:
"We have made every effort to cooperate with our local police department. Also, after learning of the accusations, Mr. Brian Smith was immediately terminated."
Smith is charged with indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, possession of child pornography and two counts of corruption of minors.
A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 4.
Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this story.
:quality(70)/media.cmgdigital.com/shared/img/photos/2014/04/19/76/38/11_news_now_615x60.jpg)
WPXI
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/W3Q5W65YHVHNLFPJFHHN7P6Y6M.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/PGYZUR3ENVDKPEAUR253HQIJOI.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MCHNJ6IKGNHYHMG6QQJTP6ICJY.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/DV3D5PBQIZFEPANBGDDAZHIA5I.jpg)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-19-2024/t_c091c1951d7141898980ea42c6448bdc_name_t_940de251e54b4db09cf9c3659504987c_name_towtruckcharges11pp041824_transfer_frame_344.jpeg)