Former youth pastor arrested in Thurston County suspected of child molestation
Police detectives arrested a former youth pastor in Thurston County on suspicion of second-degree child molestation and first-degree voyeurism on May 27.
According to a post from the Renton Police Department, 53-year-old Derek Nelson was a former youth pastor at Highlands Community Church in Renton. He was taken into custody after he left work on Wednesday and booked into the Thurston County Jail. Nelson had his initial court appearance before Judge Allyson Zipp in Thurston County Superior Court at 2:30 p.m. on May 28. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 11 a.m. on June 3. He has not yet been charged. It wasn’t immediately clear from court records available online late Thursday what bail Zipp set, but Thurston County Jail records didn’t show him in custody.
The Olympian was not immediately able to reach the church or an attorney representing Nelson for comment late Thursday.
According to a May 28 probable cause statement filed in Thurston County Superior Court, a detective with the Renton Police Department had been investigating Nelson since Aug. 14, 2024, and the department was first contacted about the youth pastor on March 30, 2021.
The probable cause statement gives this account of what happened:
Renton police were contacted by an adult victim who said a youth pastor at Highlands Community Church, located at 3031 NE 10th St. in Renton, had molested them approximately 13 years prior to 2021 in Chelan County, when the victim was a minor.
The victim stated that they believed other members of the church were victimized by Nelson as well.
The case was reopened on Aug. 14, 2024, and a detective was tasked to see if there were other victims. During that time, news outlets ran stories with the detective’s contact information. The police department’s post and the probable cause statement don’t say what prompted investigators to reopen the case or why it is being prosecuted in Thurston County.
The father of a victim contacted the detective on March 17, 2025, the probable cause statement said. He said his son had recently disclosed that his former youth pastor at the Renton church, Nelson, had molested him.
The incident took place in 2015 during a church function at the Great Wolf Lodge located at 20500 Old Highway 99 SW in Centralia, according to the statement. The victim was 12 years old at the time.
The victim was playing in the wave pool when he was approached by Nelson, who asked him to follow Nelson to the changing room. Nelson then allegedly locked the door, told the victim to take off his swim trunks, and touched the victim’s genitals.
Nelson allegedly threatened the victim and said he’d pay the price if he ever told anyone, which led the victim to keep it secret for 10 years.
Nate Edmondson, lead pastor at Highlands Community Church, told The Olympian on May 29 that Highlands terminated Nelson in May 2020 when allegations of misconduct were first brought to the attention of church leadership.
Edmondson said the church then retained Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct a third-party investigation and make recommendations to improve safety for churchgoers. He said findings were shared with the congregation in May 2023, and the church has implemented all 26 of the organization’s recommendations. He said those included improving policies, training and reporting avenues.
“It is such a heartbreaking situation,” he said. “We continue to be saddened by the grievous offenses committed by Derek Nelson and are ready to support any survivors in their journey towards healing.”
Edmondson said Highlands has been cooperating with the Renton Police Department in its investigation.
“Highlands is deeply grateful for the courageous survivors who have come forward initially and during these investigations,” Edmondson said. “We encourage any other survivors to contact Renton Police Detective Scott Barfield or Highlands. Highlands will continue to do our best to support all survivors of sexual misconduct and is committed to making our church a safe place to worship.”
The Renton Police Department post said detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information related to this case can contact Det. Scott Barfield at sbarfield@rentonwa.gov.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comments from the lead pastor at Highlands Community Church.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 6:35 PM.
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