Former Pastor Extradited From Texas to Face Molestation Charges

A former San Clemente youth pastor who allegedly molested a female parishioner nearly two decades ago was extradited from Texas and locked up in an Orange County jail Wednesday night, authorities said.

Joe David Nelms was a 29-year-old youth pastor at Pacific Coast Church in San Clemente when he met his alleged victim, then 14, in 1993. Over a three-year period, he allegedly rubbed her vagina and breasts, over and under her clothing, at the church, in his San Clemente home and while driving around town, authorities said.

The girl, now in her 30s, filed a crime report this year, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office. Shortly thereafter, on March 18, Nelms was arrested in Lindale, Texas.

He was placed in an Orange County jail about 6 p.m. Wednesday on $200,000 bail, according to Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

No arraignment date has been set.

Nelms worked as a youth pastor at the San Clemente church from 1990 to 2000.  In Texas, he was a volunteer Bible study teacher at First Baptist Church in Lindale, and a counselor for high school students at Sky Ranch, a Christian camp and ministry, according to prosecutors.

Investigators believe there might be additional victims and asked
anyone with information to call (866) TIP-OCSD.

--City News Service and Patch reports