Assemblies of God Pastor in Coarsegold, California, Arrested on Alleged Sexual Assault of 15-Year-Old Girl

An Assemblies of God pastor in Coarsegold, California, was arrested on Oct. 27 and faces 14 felony charges that police say involve sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl. According to jail records, the arrest was at his home and involved 47-year-old Joshua Kemper, lead pastor of Foothill Church, a congregation in the remote central California town.

The Madera County police department said in a statement posted on Facebook the previous Thursday that Kemper had a “relationship” with the victim from March through July of this year. Court records state that Kemper used his position as a pastor to take advantage of the minor and commit the alleged offenses. Police said the alleged assaults took place at the church, at the victim’s home, and inside Kemper’s vehicle.

Police said their investigation began after church officials reported Kemper’s inappropriate conduct to authorities. Investigators said digital evidence showed inappropriate communication and sexual conduct, including explicit messages, photos and videos. Police said Kemper engaged in “extensive digital grooming behaviors” and used a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone number and social media accounts to conceal his communication with the victim. Church officials’ report to authorities is an example of speaking up for a young person who could not protect herself (Proverbs 31:8-9).

The Madera County police praised “the courage of the victim and her family for coming forward and cooperating with law enforcement.” Authorities said there may be additional victims and asked anyone with further information to contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office investigations unit.

Kemper is being held in jail on a $500,000 bond, according to court records. His preliminary examination is scheduled for Nov. 10.

The Roys Report said it contacted Foothill Church for comment but had not received a response before publication. It is unclear whether Kemper remains the church’s lead pastor. An archived profile on the church’s website says he began working there in 2019. He has been a licensed Assemblies of God minister for more than a decade.

The report noted that the Assemblies has faced several sexual assault scandals in recent years. It cited “Pastors and Prey,” a multi-part NBC-TV investigation airing this year, whose third part, which aired the previous Thursday, described how the denomination had allegedly shielded perpetrators. The report also said that in September a prominent Assemblies pastor in Florida was charged with allegedly failing to report child sexual abuse for years.

Source: Read the original report