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Gregory J. Nies, 56, of South Spruce Street, was arraigned Wednesday morning on two felonies and two misdemeanors in connection with the relationship, which allegedly began in October 2002 and ended in June 2004.
Nies, who is married and has children, inappropriately touched, hugged and kissed the girl when she stayed over at his family's home, according to a police affidavit filed in the case.
Nies was the victim's youth group leader at Lititz United Methodist Church, according to the affidavit. The relationship started when the girl was 12 years old, according to the affidavit.
Nies, a former member of borough council, also contacted the girl online and tried to have "Cyber Sex" with her, a Lititz police detective wrote in the affidavit.
Nies has admitted to kissing and touching the girl, the affidavit says, but not to the more extreme "sexual acts" alleged by police.
Nies and his attorney, Barry Goldman, appeared in court Wednesday before District Judge Daniel Garrett. Nies posted $150,000 bail after being arraigned on charges of aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault and corruption of minors.
Although he described the case as being in its "very early stages," Goldman said Wednesday evening his client disputes some specifics in the affidavit.
"He is disputing some of the specific time frames and allegations," Goldman said. "We'd like to see more exact reports and comprehensive statements. That's all to come down the road."
"It's very traumatic and unpleasant business, all around," the attorney added.
If convicted of all four sex crimes, Nies faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.
"These are obviously extremely disturbing charges, and we are dedicated to seeing that justice is done in this case," Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said Wednesday.
"Although there is no way anyone can foresee all betrayals of trust such as is alleged here, this arrest does serve as a harsh reminder that we must be extremely cautious and vigilant in deciding whom we entrust our children to."
Nies recently was terminated from his job at Derck & Edson Associates, an architectural firm, and has left his position with the Lititz church.
According to the affidavit, police first talked to Nies about the allegations on May 7 at his home "during the course of an unrelated investigation." Police asked Nies if there was any truth to a "past allegation" involving him and a female member of his former church.
Nies admitted having an "inappropriate relationship" with the alleged victim, according to the affidavit.
Nies and the girl first came in contact through the church, and she eventually became close with the Nies family, according to the affidavit.
She stayed at the Nies family's West Sixth Street home when her grandparents, who were her guardians, went on vacations, Detective John Schofield writes in the affidavit.
Nies would touch the girl's private areas and kiss her at night in the basement of the home, the victim told police, according to the affidavit.
There were at least eight encounters, the detective was told. Nies told the girl, "This is what dads do," according to the affidavit.
After each encounter, Nies would later contact the girl in an online chat room, "telling her that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her," Schofield writes in the affidavit. While online, Nies repeatedly asked the girl to have "Cyber Sex," she told police.
In 2005, Nies ran for Lititz mayor as a write-in Republican candidate and lost by 255 votes to incumbent Russell L. Pettyjohn. Nies also lost the Republican mayoral primary to Pettyjohn in 2001.
This year, the Warwick GOP Committee endorsed Nies when he decided to again run for mayor until becoming aware of the charges, which were pending at the time, according to the committee chairman.
Chairman Jeff Conrad said Wednesday he found out about a search executed at Nies' home May 8 in connection with a criminal investigation.
Conrad, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, immediately confronted Nies on the telephone about the investigation.
"He indicated he wished to have his name withdrawn from consideration" as mayor, Conrad said Wednesday, recalling his conversation with Nies. Conrad had Nies' name pulled from voter guides before they were sent to potential voters.
"As soon as we had knowledge, we did all we could to help people elect the right person and not make a bad recommendation," Conrad said.
Nies remained on the ballot and received 53 votes at the polls May 19. Ronald Oettel Jr. ran unopposed and won in a landslide.
Conrad said the committee feels Nies "betrayed" them.
"Nobody — absolutely nobody — had any knowledge of this. He was someone very well-regarded within the community. He spent time working as the town Santa," Conrad said. "We thought and I know people in the community thought he was an upstanding man.
"It was very shocking to everybody."
Nies played Santa Claus at Lititz Springs Park during the Christmas season.
E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com
