A Ham Lake church youth director was charged Thursday with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at his home and at youth camps.

Damian Burkhalter, 47, of Blaine, allegedly first sexually abused the girl about a year ago and sexual incidents continued afterward, according to charges filed in Anoka County District Court. Authorities were notified when a child protection worker in Kandiyohi County learned from the girl, who is now 15, that she had been assaulted by her youth pastor, the charges said.

Burkhalter was a youth director at Glen Cary Lutheran Church in Ham Lake. The Rev. Paul Settergren issued the following statement: "We are shocked and saddened by the events of the past few days. We are holding all individual and family members in our prayers. As a congregation, we are deeply committed to insuring that the church is a place of safety for all. We are cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigation."

The church wouldn't say whether Burkhalter was still an employee or how long he worked at the church.

He previously was a sergeant with the Hennepin County sheriff's office for six years until he resigned in 2003. He worked at the county jail.

Burkhalter was charged with two counts of felony first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of felony second-degree criminal sexual assault. He is being held in Anoka County jail. Bail was set at $100,000 with release conditions.

According to the charges, Burkhalter had "accepted" the girl into his family and wanted to adopt her. They developed a relationship, and the girl saw Burkhalter as a father figure, the charge said.

DAVID CHANEN