ROSWELL, Ga. — A metro Atlanta youth pastor is under arrest and facing charges after police say he used a popular messaging app to share and download more than a dozen sexually explicit videos involving children.
Daniel Menelaou, 28, was arrested Wednesday and charged with six felony counts of possessing or controlling materials depicting minors in sexually explicit content. He was awarded $20,000 surety bonds for each charge, according to jail records.
Menelaou is employed as the youth pastor at Futures Church in Alpharetta, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Fulton County. Channel 2′s Michael Seiden has reached out to the church for comment, but our calls and emails haven’t been returned.
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The investigation began last month after the Roswell Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit received a tip that Menelaou had used messaging app Kik to send and download sexually explicit videos of children.
On Wednesday, investigators served search warrants at his home in Roswell, where they seized multiple devices, according to an arrest warrant.
While being interviewed by police, Menelaou confessed to crimes, admitting to investigators that he has an addiction to pornography, according to court documents.
In a statement sent to Channel 2 Action News, Futures Church said:
“The charges against Daniel Menelaou are abhorrent, appalling, and completely contrary to everything we stand for. We are horrified by what has been revealed and categorically condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms.
Until his arrest, we had no prior knowledge of any allegations or indication of wrongdoing. The details outlined in the arrest warrant are deeply disturbing and stand in total opposition to our unwavering commitment to protecting children.
Our hearts go out first and foremost to any victims who have been harmed. We remain committed to standing with all survivors of abuse, particularly children, whose suffering should never be ignored or minimized.
Futures Church has a zero-tolerance policy regarding any form of abuse. The moment we became aware of Daniel Menelaou’s arrest, we placed him on immediate administrative leave. However, the full extent of these charges was unknown to us until the last few hours and his position has now been terminated. Let us be unequivocally clear this behavior is reprehensible and has no place in our church.
In the midst of this devastating situation, we also recognize the immense burden placed on his wife, who has been placed in an incredibly painful position. We will continue to offer her support, care, and resources as she navigates this tragic reality.
Our church has always been dedicated to the protection of the vulnerable. We are, and always have been, advocates for and supporters of any victims of exploitation. We stand firmly on the side of justice and are cooperating with law enforcement to ensure the truth is revealed and justice is served.
Futures Church is in no way responsible or affiliated with these actions of Daniel Menelaou. As a church, we take our responsibility seriously. We regularly review our policies and safeguards to ensure we continue upholding the highest standards of child protection. Our priority remains the well-being of our community, and we will continue to do everything in our power to support those affected.”
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