IOWA: "A former Des Moines youth pastor charged with sexually abusing two congregation members pleaded guilty today to two charges.... Ryan McKelvey, 27, was charged in August with two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of sexual exploitation by a clergy after one of the victims, a 16-year-old female, and her parents reported the abuse to police. Through their investigation, police learned about a second alleged victim. McKelvey served as a youth pastor at the Heritage Assembly Church at 5051 N.E. Fifth Street.... The church's pastor had dismissed McKelvey from his job before the police investigation due to 'laziness' and 'spending too much time with the female juveniles of the church.'"

TEXAS: "Baytown police are investigating an alleged case of sexual assault of a child involving a woman who was a youth pastor at the time. Last month, a 19-year-old woman came forward with information about an intimate relationship she claims to have had with Mellony Lewis, 28. The victim told the Houston Police Department the relationship took place when she was 15 years old and Lewis was approximately 25 years old. At the time of the alleged relationship, Lewis was working as a youth pastor at the United Methodist Church in the 600 block of Pecore, where she met the victim."

MISSISSIPPI: "A Central Hinds Academy and Raymond Road Baptist Church [youth pastor] was arrested Tuesday on one count of gratification of lust while in a position of trust or authority. In a release on Wednesday, Clinton Police Chief Mike Warren said Adam Epperson, 34, of Clinton, was arrested on the charges and bonded out on $25,000 bond the same day... According to Clinton Detective Josh Frazier, the victim associated with Epperson through both the church and the school. The incident occurred about two years ago, when the victim was 14 years old."

ALABAMA: "A former youth pastor for an Enterprise church has been sentenced to serve three years in jail after he pleaded guilty to raping a teenage girl. The Dothan Eagle reports 26-year-old Timothy Thomas pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree rape after being arrested last March. Thomas was fired after his arrest from his job as a youth pastor at St. Luke United Methodist Church. Police say the rape took place sometime between February and March last year and that Thomas sent sexually explicit text messages to the girl he was charged with raping."

SOUTH CAROLINA: "A former youth pastor, who pleaded guilty to a sex crime involving a minor, was sentenced to prison on Monday. Joshua Finney, 31, received a three-year sentence from Judge Letitia Verdin for second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor... During his plea hearing, Finney admitted to having an inappropriate, three-year relationship with a child who attended the First Baptist Church of Conestee. Finney was the Bible study teacher and youth pastor of Haley Thackston, who was 13 years old when the relationship started."

TEXAS: "A former Garland youth minister was sentenced on Wednesday to 12 years in federal prison after he was convicted last year of receipt of child pornography.... Joshua Earls, 30, will also be on supervised release for life after he serves his term. Investigators discovered that Earls had an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl at Arapaho Road Baptist Church, where he worked. Investigators found more than 600 images of child porn on Earl's computer, including images of the teen girl from church."