Photo (Courtesy) http://salinapost.com/2011/10/07/salina-pastor-arrested-on-sex-charges/
By the Salina Journal
A Salina church pastor was suspended Friday after being arrested Thursday on sex charges.
Birger Draget, 54, of 503 Claremont, was arrested Thursday on charges that include rape, aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated criminal sodomy.
Draget is pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist church in Salina.
Carson Mansfield, deputy Salina police chief, said authorities began investigating after a teenage girl reported to police that she had suffered years of sexual abuse.
Draget was being held in the Saline County Jail.
Administrative leave
Church officials placed Draget on administrative leave immediately after hearing about the allegations.
Ron Carlson, president of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, said he was "shocked and dismayed."
He said that the church would cooperate with the investigation in any way it could.
"He will have no responsibility for the congregation" until the case is resolved, Carlson said. "We certainly want to provide a safe environment for our young people."
Carlson said Draget had been pastor of the Salina church for more than five years.
Church leaders in Salina were being informed of Draget's suspension Friday evening.
| Abuse Happens, Even in Church |
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