Tempe Minister Shoots Self Rather Than Face Allegations He Tried to Lure 14-Year-Old Girl for Sex

The Chandler Police Department executed a search warrant at a Valley church yesterday in search of evidence that the church's minister tried to lure a 14-year-old girl for sex over the Internet.The alleged pederast, 52-year-old Nicholas Minerva, responded by fatally shooting himself...

By James King

April 22, 2011

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The Chandler Police Department executed a search warrant at a Valley church yesterday in search of evidence that the church's minister tried to lure a 14-year-old girl for sex over the Internet.

The alleged pederast, 52-year-old Nicholas Minerva, responded by fatally shooting himself.

According to the Chandler PD, Minerva, minister at Trinity Baptist Fellowship Church in Phoenix, was being investigated for allegedly trying to lure a girl he met in an Internet chat room for sex.

The chat-room conversations started in July and ended (obviously) yesterday.

During one of the chat room conversations, police say, Minerva used a web cam to expose his penis to the girl.

Minerva is survived by his wife and four kids.

Read more about Minerva at the church's website.

Chandler police suspect there may be more victims, and encourage anyone with information about Minerva to call the department at 480-782-4130.

James King

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