A former Lawrence woman took the stand Friday in Douglas County District Court describing sexual abuse that took place nearly a decade ago at the hands of a former church youth leader.

“He was the youth director at my church – he was like a mentor to me,” the 24-year-old woman said.

The victim came forward to Lawrence police last year, nine years after she claims the relationship started.

On the stand Friday afternoon, she testified that while she was a member of the youth group at a Lawrence church, she was involved in a three-year sexual relationship with the youth director.

She was 15 years old when it started. He was 28.

She testified she kept a journal during the time frame but didn’t tell anyone about the relationship until much later.

“I think it was just understood. It was kind of an unspoken rule that if I told anyone it would be over,” she said.

The woman said the relationship ended when she turned 18. She said the defendant got married at that time and moved to California to attend seminary.

She said what prompted her to come forward was the fact that the man – who is now 37 – was about to become an ordained minister and looking to return to northeast Kansas to work.

“It was bothersome,” she said. “It bothered me he might work in a church where my little brother still goes.”

After listening to the woman’s testimony, Douglas County District Judge Robert Fairchild ordered the man to stand trial on a charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

He’s free on $20,000 bond and scheduled to appear back in court July 14 for a motions hearing in the case.

The Journal-World typically does not identify suspects in sex crimes unless there is a conviction.