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Ex-Pekin youth pastor faces more child sex assault charges

Posted January 15, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

PEKIN, Ill. (AP) - A former youth pastor charged in Peoria with child pornography and sexually abusing a child now faces more charges in Pekin involving the same preteen girl.

Twenty-seven-year-old Nicholas Lawrence pleaded not guilty Thursday in Tazewell County court to four felony charges of child sexual assault.

The Pekin Daily Times (http://bit.ly/1AZJ4vw ) reports Lawrence met the girl in 2010 when he was with Peoria Heights Congregational Church. He later practiced at Mt. Hawley Community Church and Pekin's First Church of God. Prosecutors say he continued to teach Bible study at all three and that he acknowledged meeting with the girl in a closet at the Pekin church.

A judge ordered Lawrence held on $500,000 bond. A message was left with the attorney representing him on the Peoria charges. He was fired from the Pekin church in June.

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Information from: Pekin Daily Times, http://www.pekintimes.com

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