A Silver Spring pastor was charged by Montgomery County Police Tuesday with sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl who was a family member and church congregant in 2014, according to police.
Jeankite Joseph, 49 was charged with sexual abuse of a minor and a third-degree sexual offense, police said.
Joseph, a pastor of the Church of Messengers of God, located in his home, allegedly abused the girl on Dec. 31, 2014 when the victim and her mother were at Joseph’s home for a service. Police said abuse occurred after the the mother went to work, leaving her daughter with Joseph and his wife.
Police said detectives received information about the alleged abuse on May 31 and issued a warrant for Joseph’s arrest on June 25. He was arrested in Atlanta on June 28, and incarcerated in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility on July 12, where he was released on bond.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
