Jackson youth pastor arrested Tuesday for sexual harassment

Ryan Kelley McElrath, youth pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, was arrested Tuesday morning on charges of sexual assault and rape of minors.

McElrath, 39, was arrested at a residence on Willow Green Drive around 9:45 a.m. After being booked into the Madison County Jail, he was released on $70,000 bail at 6:12 p.m.

He is accused of the following three charges:

• Sexual abuse by an authority figure
• Sexual assault with minors
• Sexual abuse by an authority figure – rape

The church’s website currently lists only one person as youth pastor, and there is little mention of McElrath on the site.