Former Youth Pastor at Aurora Chapel Charged With Sexual Exploitation

Former Youth Pastor at Aurora Chapel Charged With Sexual Exploitation

A Sugar Grove man faces criminal charges for engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with a child while employed as a youth pastor at an Aurora church.

Paxton D. Singer

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office charged 24-year-old Paxton D. Singer with the offense of sexual exploitation of a child, Class A misdemeanor, and the offense of disorderly conduct, Class C misdemeanor.

Kane County prosecutors allege in charging documents that between October 2016 and August 2017 Singer, by sending text messages, knowingly enticed the victim, who was younger than 17 years old at the time, to remove the victim’s clothing for the purpose of Singer’s sexual arousal or gratification and that Singer sent text messages to the victim and asked questions that were sexual in nature and asked the victim to spend the weekend with him, alarming and disturbing the victim’s parents.

According to the Kane County Child Advocacy Center, which investigated the case after a referral from the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, Singer first became acquainted with the victim while Singer was employed by Harvest Bible Chapel, in the 100 block of Barnes Road, Aurora, and the victim was attending an event conducted by the church.

Both offenses are alleged to have occurred while the church employed Singer.

A Kane County judge signed a warrant for Singer’s arrest, set his bail for $50,000 with 10 percent ($5,000) to apply for bond and set his initial court appearance for 9 a.m. Nov. 11, 2018, at Aurora Branch Court.

Singer surrendered Oct. 17, 2018, at the Kane County jail, posted $5,000 bond and was released.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about Singer should call DCFS at 1-800-252-2873 or the Kane County CAC at (630) 208-5160.

The charges against Singer are not proof of guilt. Singer is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.