King County prosecutors charged an employee of a Federal Way church with one count of third-degree child rape on Nov. 9 for an alleged illicit relationship he had with a minor.

Kevin Donald Clark, 23 of Pacific, was arrested on Nov. 4 for his alleged involvement in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl while working at Brooklake Church.

According to court documents, Clark was working as the audio producer at Brooklake Church when he first met the victim. He was supposed to mentor her as she wanted to learn about production and video streaming.

The victim first told church officials about interactions with Clark that were making her uncomfortable in June. She stated that he was hugging her for extended periods of time and grabbing her hips.

Church officials confronted Clark on the accusations, but he stated that it was the victim who initiated the contact and agreed not to hug her anymore, the documents continue.

Church staff decided that a member of the church should be in the room with the two. However, the court documents only note one occassion when that church member was present, when the girl allegedly gave Clark a neck massage.

“We are heartbroken over the allegations that have been made and our prayers are with everyone involved,” said Jo Gibbons, communications director for Brooklake Church, in a statement to the Mirror, noting church officials are unable to make any comments at this time due to the nature of the investigation.”We can say, however, that the allegations are made against an individual who was not in a ministerial or leadership role and did not happen within our Kids Ministry, Student Ministry or in our private pre-school or elementary school. Additionally, the court has ordered the accused to remain off church premises while the investigation is open. Again, our hearts and prayers go out to all those involved.”

Soon after the girl reported Clark’s behavior, he allegedly began to touch the victim, which again made her uncomfortable. She stated in her journal that she did not know what to do about the touching, but claims it soon escalated. He allegedly told her not to tell anyone once he started hugging her again.

In August, Clark allegedly sexually assaulted the victim, forcing her to perform oral sex on him as he touched her inappropriately while the two were alone.

In October, he allegedly had the victim touch his genitals once again during an event held by the Next Church which had rented space at Destiny City Church in Tacoma.

The victim’s family learned of the incident when an older sibling found the victim’s journal.

Most incidents took place in the audio room at Brooklake Church. The victim stated in her journal that she knew it was wrong because Clark would always stop when he heard noises or thought someone was close by.

According to the court documents, the girl expressed conflicted feelings towards Clark in her journal entries. She wrote that she “wanted to be close to him, but never wanted him to touch her again” and that she “felt like a toy that was played with and thrown away.”

Eventually, the victim began to accept his advances. Clark allegedly told the victim that “he could not leave his wife, but they could have this secret between them.”

Federal Way police contacted Clark on Nov. 4 and asked him to come to the station before he went to the church. He told police that he knew the victim and knew that she wrote about him in her journal. He also stated he received notes from the victim.

He also told police that there were witnesses to a knee-touching incident where the victim touched him, but later stated that no one saw it. He declined to take a polygraph test.

Clark’s arraignment is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 23 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.