Wife of church youth pastor, 25, indicted on charges of rape after having relationship with boy, 17, she met through her husband - who still wants to save their relationship

  • Ariel Stevenson, 25, has been charged with statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor after she began a relationship with a 17-year-old
  • She met the boy through her husband Jeremy who is his youth pastor at Franklin Christian Church in Franklin, Tennessee
  • Jeremy told church officials about the alleged relationship between the two in May and they then contacted Children's Services and the police
  • Ariel turned herself into police last week and is charged with statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor
  • She and Jeremy are seeing a marriage counselor in hopes of working out their relationship 

The wife of a youth pastor has been arrested after starting a relationship with an underage boy.

Ariel Stevenson, 25, of Franklin, Tennessee has been charged with statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor after she began a relationship with a 17-year-old boy.

She met the teenager through her husband Jeremy, who is the boy's youth pastor at Franklin Christian Church.

Arrest: Ariel Stevenson (above in mugshot), 25, has been charged with statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor after she began a relationship with a 17-year-old

Arrest: Ariel Stevenson (above in mugshot), 25, has been charged with statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor after she began a relationship with a 17-year-old

Ice cold: She met the boy through her husband Jeremy (above) who is his youth pastor at Franklin Christian Church in Franklin, Tennessee

Ice cold: She met the boy through her husband Jeremy (above) who is his youth pastor at Franklin Christian Church in Franklin, Tennessee

According to The Tennessean Jeremy told the church in mid-May of the allegations against his wife, claiming that the relationship had been going on for six months. 

Zach Stewart, the church's lead minister, then reported these claims to Department of Children's Services and the Franklin Police Department.

He also banned Ariel from church activities.

Ariel and Jeremy Stevenson
Ariel and Jeremy Stevenson

Crimes: Ariel (above with Jeremy) turned herself into police last week and is charged with statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor

Despite this, Ariel and Jeremy are seeing a counselor and Jeremy has remained on staff at the church. 

'They're trying to reconcile,' said Stewart. 

'It's been a fast four months of prayer.'

Ariel turned herself in to authorities on Thursday and will appear in court October 15 after being released on a $20,000 bond.

The extent of her relationship has not been revealed, but church officials claim none of it happened on their property.  

Franklin Police Department spokesman Lt. Charles Warner said details are being kept under warps as they are part of the grand jury indictment and will be revealed at trial.  

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now