MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - A former pastor at a New Hampshire church has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a minor.
Stephen Jesmer, 37, was employed as a pastor at The Dialogue Church in Manchester. He was arrested Monday night on three counts of felonious sexual assault and one count of witness tampering.
Police started investigating several months ago when they were told of potentially inappropriate behavior involving Jesmer and a minor.
WMUR-TV reported that Jesmer was fired from his position after allegations surfaced that he assaulted a girl under the age of 16. WMUR cited court records in reporting that Jesmer allegedly told a fellow pastor in late June that “he had crossed the line.” The other pastor contacted the Department of Children, Youth and Families.
“Basically you have a pastor who had sexual misconduct with a minor, who breached trust of parents, or other parishioners, or staff members who entrusted him with the care of a minor, and he took advantage of that,” Manchester Police Lt. Brian O’Keefe was quoted as saying by NECN.
Jesmer is free on $100,000 bond. It was not immediately known if he is being represented by an attorney.
The Dialogue Church was closed on Tuesday, and police said church leaders were cooperating with the investigation.
NECN said the church posted a statement to parishoners on Facebook saying, “As a church family we are committed to being a church that glorifies God and adds value to our surrounding community.”
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