Banning Youth Pastor Formally Charged With Sex Crime Against Child

BANNING, CA — A Banning church faculty member accused of inappropriate acts with a child was formally charged Friday.

Nicholas Garrett Corl, 26, is facing one count of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a position of trust to commit a criminal offense, according to court records.

Corl remains jailed at Banning's Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in lieu of $1 million bail and was scheduled for arraignment Friday afternoon.

The investigation into Corl began at approximately 3:42 p.m. Tuesday when an employee from Mountain Avenue Baptist Church, 1325 Mountain Avenue, contacted police about "criminal acts" against a child on church property, according to the Banning Police Department.

The ensuing investigation Corl's arrest at the Vista Serena Condominium Complex shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Corl, who has no documented convictions in Riverside County, has served at the church for two years and most recently held the title of Summit Youth Pastor, according to the organization's website.

"Nic is also very involved at Calvary Christain School, where he teaches a full day of classes, is the athletics director and basketball coach," the website states.

The Michigan transplant is married and played basketball for West Coast Baptist College, the site reads.

Anyone who may have additional information regarding the case is asked to contact the Banning Police Department Detective Bureau at 951-922-3170.

—Patch Editor Toni McAllister and City News Service contributed to this report.