Accused youth pastor can keep working at church

POCATELLO, Idaho – A youth pastor charged with sexually abusing a minor may continue to work at the church where the crime allegedly occurred, a judge says.

Joshua J. Robinson, 29, was charged in February with two counts of lewd conduct with a minor and one count of sexually abusing a minor for allegedly abusing a teenage girl starting when she was 15 years old.

Because of the charges, a no-contact order was issued directing Robinson to stay away from the girl. But last month, 6th District Judge Peter McDermott modified the order, allowing Robinson to return to his job as a youth pastor at Gate City Christian Church in Chubbuck. Robinson is still prohibited from contacting people younger than 18.

On Monday, Bannock County Deputy Prosecutor Cleve Colson asked the judge to reconsider the change. One of the charges against Robinson allegedly took place at the church, Colson said, and the prosecutor’s office is worried that the youth pastor still has access to minors at the church. Robinson also is allegedly still participating in a church Web site that is frequented by the congregation’s youth, Colson said.

A phone call to the church’s senior pastor, John Robinson, was not immediately returned. John Robinson is Joshua Robinson’s father, a church receptionist said.

Joshua Robinson’s attorney, Aaron Thompson of Dial, May & Rammell in Pocatello, said the younger Robinson is no longer handling youth ministries at the church and instead is doing administrative duties that don’t involve contact with young people.

McDermott said Robinson could continue to work at the church. A trial has been scheduled for June 26.