Domenic Bisesti, director of children’s ministry for Anona United Methodist Church in Largo,Florida, was arrested yesterday on charges of “lewd and lascivious molestation.”
The director of the children’s ministry at a Largo church was arrested after police say he inappropriately touched a 14-year-old girl.
Domenic Victor Bisesti, 31, worked at Anona United Methodist Church located at 13233 Indian Rocks Rd.
A senior pastor told ABC Action News, Bisesti has been removed from his position and is no longer allowed on church property.
“I had no reason to doubt his integrity, he was a trusted employee,” said Jack Stephenson, senior pastor at Anona United Methodist Church.
The girl identified him and said he touched her inappropriately during a church function and on church property on several occasions over the past several months.
According to Largo police, Bisesti touched the girl in a lewd and lascivious manner on the buttocks area over her clothing.
When she realized it was not accidental, she told him to stop but he continued. She told her mother who then reported it to the police.
Information retrieved from the girl’s cell phone also contributed to the arrest.
The 31-year-old youth director worked with hundreds of kids every Sunday. Bisesti directed drama and dance teams and coordinated youth worship services.
“We do background checks on a constant basis,” said Stephenson. “We make sure that staff is trained to be very safe, to be very appropriate, to be very age appropriate.”
Bisesti was arrested for Lewd and Lascivious Molestation. The church was notified, and it is unknown at this time if there are any other victims.
Pastor Stephenson says the church is bringing in counselors to help parents talk to their kids about what happened.
“We’re really trying to help parents deal with this and if there are other victims, we’re trying to help parents talk to their children in safe way where they might be able to ascertain that.”
