'It happened,' says Colorado Springs pastor who sexually assaulted and impregnated 14-year-old girl
The girl said that she and Romello Leach had sexual intercourse twice — once in November 2016 and again in February or April 2017.
A Colorado pastor, accused of impregnating a 14-year-old girl, was arrested on Wednesday (22 November) over multiple felony counts of sexual assault on a child.
According to reports, Romello Leach, 22 and an unidentified girl had sexual intercourse at least twice since late 2016.
Arrest records said the girl had initially not told anyone about her pregnancy. But on 17 May, when her mother noticed that she had "a larger belly" she took her to the Colorado Springs Pregnancy Centre.
The mother told an employee working there that her daughter had been impregnated by Leach. The girl said that she and Leech had had sexual intercourse twice — once in November 2016 and again in February or April 2017.
The employee then reported the pregnancy to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, which started the month-long investigation, Denver Post website reported.
"Leach is associated with several churches who regularly meet at the Satellite Hotel, located at 411 Lakewood Circle in Colorado Springs," El Paso County Sheriff Office said.
"He has had access to an unknown number of children/teens and we are seeking information on anyone who may have been victimized by him in the past and not reported it."
Police also think that the pastor might have been involved with many other children.
"He had access to so many given his position and the number of churches he was involved in," the sheriff's office said. "It's very disheartening; as a parent, I'll tell you, you go to church and you would think that's one of the places you're safe from predators ... unfortunately, we've seen that that's not the case."
Police have recovered a recorded telephone conversation between Leach and his ex-wife from 21 November, Raw Story reported.
"So you didn't sleep with that girl and get her pregnant?" his ex-wife asked.
"It happened," Leach replied.
According to arrest records, Leach admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the girl on at least four occasions and he was the father of her child.
He also "admitted the behaviour was wrong," and said he was "full of lust" at the time of the incident but claimed it is "not like he will go around and sleep with everybody's 13 or 14-year-old daughter."