Missouri youth pastor sexually assaulted girl 'hundreds of times' beginning at age 12: prosecutor

A former youth pastor was accused this week of sexually assaulting a girl over a five year period, beginning when she was 12 years old.

The St. Louis Dispatchreported that former Ballwin Baptist Church youth pastor Cameron Patterson, who also worked as an after school program supervisor for Wentzville School District, was charged on Wednesday in Lake Saint Louis with two counts of felony child molestation.

Court records indicated that Patterson had sexually assaulted the victims "hundreds of times" beginning at the age of 12 and continuing until she was 17 years old, The St. Louis Dispatch noted.

Patterson reportedly used email to apologize to the victim, court documents said.

He allegedly told her that he “wanted to seek professional counseling for his sins and to seek guidance from church officials and his parents.”

“I have seen reports of teachers and youth pastors being arrested for having inappropriate and often sexual relationships with a student, and I have asked myself the question of if I am that teacher or youth pastor," he wrote in one email.

Prosecutor Tim Lohmar pointed out that Patterson regularly came in contact with children because of his job, but there was no evidence of additional victims. However, he did say that additional charges could be filed.

The Wentzville School District said in a statement that Patterson had been placed on administrative leave after being charged. And Pastor Ballwin Baptist Church David Rubemeyer said that Patterson was no longer employed by the church.

Patterson faces 15 years and a lifetime of registering as a sex offender if convicted. His bail was set at $20,000.

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