Pastor's Wife Guilty in Sex Case

(Decatur, Illinois)

A 29-year-old woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal sexual abuse of a 16-year-old boy who attended the church where her husband was a youth pastor.

Melissa B. Jones was sentenced to two years probation for the offense, which is a Class 4 felony. She must register as a sex offender for the next 10 years.

At the time she was charged in November 2008, Jones was married to the youth pastor of Salem Baptist Church. According to the church's Web site, Dean Jones now works there as an assistant pastor.

The 16-year-old told police in 2008 that he had attended Salem Baptist for several years. He met Melissa Jones at church camp, and she began counseling him for an addiction to Internet pornography.

The counseling sessions led to multiple episodes of sex. Jones ultimately confessed to Rev. Thompson who notified the authorities.