Crime & Safety
Youth Minister of Rockville Church Charged With Sexual Offenses Against Teens
Police are trying to determine if there are additional victims of Brian Patrick Werth, 32, who have not yet come forward.
A youth minister from the teen program at a Rockville church was arrested Wednesday on allegations of sexual abuse against at least one teen girl in his program.
According to Montgomery County police, detectives from the Special Victims division have been investigating the allegations for a few weeks, and on Wednesday at around 8:30 a.m., the suspect was officially arrested.
Brian Werth, 32, a resident of the 19900 block of Drexel Hill Circle in Montgomery Village, was arrested at his home.
Find out what's happening in Rockvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Werth is the youth minister at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 917 Montrose Road in Rockville.
In late August, detectives were notified by Child Protective Services that it had been reported that Werth had inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year-old parishioner in May during a youth event at the church.
Find out what's happening in Rockvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Investigators interviewed the victim and her parents, and gathered other evidence during the last two weeks. They reportedly learned that Werth had been texting the victim since the summer of 2014, when she was just 14 years old.
Investigators said they believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. Detectives are urging anyone with information regarding inappropriate contact involving Brian Patrick Werth to contact theSpecial Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.
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