Kernersville NC Pastor Charged With Statutory Rape After Alleged Abuse of 15-Year-Old Surfaces Decades Later
A well-known pastor from the Triad area is facing serious criminal charges after investigators say he had sexual relations with a 15-year-old child more than two decades ago.
According to arrest warrants obtained by The North Carolina Beat, Brett Martin Kitko, 50, of Winston-Salem and senior pastor at The Phoenix Church in Kernersville, has been charged with statutory Rape of a Child by an Adult (≥6 years older) and two counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child.
The statutory rape warrant states Kitko “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did engage in vaginal intercourse with J.R.P., person of the age of 15 years.”
The two alleged incidents occurred on August 1, 2001 and January 1, 2002.
Kitko Arrested, Immediately Released on Bond
On Friday, Kitko was arrested by law enforcement and granted a $300,000 unsecured bond, allowing him to return home without posting any money upfront. He is not currently in custody.
Despite the gravity of the charges, there is no public record of additional conditions, such as GPS monitoring or restrictions involving minors.
Silence from The Phoenix Church
Kitko currently serves as senior pastor of The Phoenix Church, located on Salisbury Street in Kernersville. At the time of publishing, the church has not issued a statement, nor has Kitko removed himself from leadership.
Warrants do not specify how the case came to light after more than 20 years.
