Ex-pastor pleads guilty to sex with parishioner

Published 9:17 pm Thursday, August 29, 2019

AVON — A former Minnesota pastor has pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a parishioner he was counseling.

Fifty-year-old Charles Pelkey entered his plea to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct on Tuesday. A jury trial that was scheduled to begin Tuesday was canceled in light of the plea deal.

Pelkey was pastor at Avon Community Church. According to the complaint, he began counseling a married woman in November 2017 who wanted to “learn more about God.”

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The complaint says the relationship eventually became sexual. The woman eventually ended the relationship.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 31.

Pelkey also was a chaplain for the Avon Police Department. The police chief has said Pelkey is no longer being used as a volunteer chaplain.