ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A youth pastor at an Alpharetta church was arrested Wednesday on several child pornography charges.

Daniel Menelaou was charged with six counts of possession or control of any material depicting a minor in sexually explicit conduct, according to warrants obtained by Atlanta News First. The charges stem from several sexually explicit videos involving children being shared through a messaging app, arrest warrants state.

“It’s egregious behavior regardless of who is engaged in it in particular somebody that has connections to young people and it raises the threat level to another degree,” Roswell Police Officer Tim Lupo said.

Arrest warrants said that Menelaou, who is a pastor at Futures Church Alpharetta, told law enforcement he admitted to being sent child porn, sending them to another phone he had and that he has a pornography addiction.

“I’m shocked. The fact that he’s a youth pastor and that he’s with children all the time is very scary,” Neighbor Tama Meixner said.

The Roswell Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation began investigating in February after getting cybertips, they said.

Jail records show Menelaou was issued a $20,000 surety bond for each child porn possession charge. A surety bond is a “legal binding contract that guarantees a third party will meet the tax obligations of an employer,” the Georgia Department of Labor website states.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Futures Church said the charges are “abhorrent, appalling, and completely contrary to everything” the church stands for.

“We are horrified by what has been revealed and categorically condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms,” the spokesperson said. “Until his arrest, we had no prior knowledge of any allegations or indication of wrongdoing. The details outlined in the arrest warrant are deeply disturbing and stand in total opposition to our unwavering commitment to protecting children.”

The spokesperson said the church remains committed to standing with all survivors of abuse and that it has a zero-tolerance policy on any form of abuse.

“The moment we became aware of Daniel Menelaou’s arrest, we placed him on immediate administrative leave. However, the full extent of these charges was unknown to us until the last few hours and his position has now been terminated. Let us be unequivocally clear this behavior is reprehensible and has no place in our church,” the spokesperson said.

“Futures Church is in no way responsible or affiliated with these actions of Daniel Menelaou. As a church, we take our responsibility seriously. We regularly review our policies and safeguards to ensure we continue upholding the highest standards of child protection. Our priority remains the well-being of our community, and we will continue to do everything in our power to support those affected.”

“Our church has always been dedicated to the protection of the vulnerable. We are, and always have been, advocates for and supporters of any victims of exploitation. We stand firmly on the side of justice and are cooperating with law enforcement to ensure the truth is revealed and justice is served.”

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.

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