BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -- A former Christian youth minister faces numerous charges for allegedly sexually abusing a family member.
James Lilly, 24, of Bluefield, is charged with 31 counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, one count of sexual assault in the second degree and one count of incest, according to a criminal complaint filed in Mercer County Magistrate Court.
The victim was allegedly abused for several years, beginning when she was 9 or 10 and continuing into her teens. She came forward after learning Lilly was student-teaching, the complaint says.
Lilly has been let go from youth minister positions at several churches, including the Christ Episcopal Church on Duhring Street in Bluefield. Father Chad Slater of the Christ Episcopal Church told police Lilly was let go for attempting to get small children alone.
Lilly also previously worked at the Creator Episcopal Church in Mechanicsville, Virginia, where a 16-year-old girl told Rev. William Burk she and another girl had been pressured to send nude photos to Lilly.
Noel York-Simmons of the All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta told police Lilly was let go for lying.
The principal of the Bluefield Intermediate School told police Lilly was a student observer there during the 2015 school year, but had little interaction with students.
Detective K.L. Adams, who wrote the criminal complaint, did not immediately return a call.
