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Former Sunday School Teacher Headed To Trial

BEAVER (KDKA) - A former Sunday school teacher, accused of having sex with a 12-year-old girl inside a church building, appeared in court today for a preliminary hearing.

Thomas Law, 19, of New Sewickley Township, is now headed to trial.

The allegedly encounters happened at the Stay House at the New Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Economy Borough.

Back in August, police said Law confessed to having sexual intercourse twice with the minor on the couch of the church building. Police said it happened in 2009.

According to the defense attorney, the alleged victim was not a member of Law's Sunday school class.

"He was not her Sunday School teacher. They attended the same church; she attended briefly," said Steve Colafella, the defense attorney. "There was some interaction through a Bible Study group. He did subsequently serve as a Sunday school teacher at that church, but not while these things were allegedly to have happened. Those contacts predated this by almost a year."

Law remains free on $20,000 bond. The victim's family was also at today's hearing.

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