NorthStar Church Youth Volunteer Charged with Child Molestation

A 25-year-old youth volunteer has been arrested and charged with molesting at least one juvenile during a church lock-in.

The and Acworth police departments are investigating multiple charges of child molestation against Cesar Pastrana of Spangle Circle in Kennesaw.

Cobb police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce said that on Friday, Feb. 3, and Saturday, Feb. 4, the Kennesaw church held a youth lock-in called "Thrive," and Pastrana allegedly molested a juvenile at a private Cobb County residence.

Acworth police said Pastrana confessed Friday to molesting two teenage boys, reported WSB-TV.

"It became clear in the interview he had engaged in some child molestation involving some people who had been in his home for a church function," Acworth Police Chief Mike Wilkie told WSB-TV.

Pierce said further investigation found that two juveniles were victimized by Pastrana from late December 2010 to early January 2011 in a private residence in unincorporated Cobb County.

NorthStar Church said it asked Pastrana to leave the ministry after a student accused him of inappropriate conduct during the retreat, WSB said.

The church said it conducted a background check on Pastrana and that his record was clean.

According to his Facebook page, Pastrana is a 2007 graduate of .

Jail records show Pastrana was arrested Friday afternoon and is being held without bond at the on charges of child molestation, aggravated child molestation and sexual battery.

Anyone with information about this or any other case involving Pastrana should contact the Cobb County Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit at 770-801-3470.

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