A rural Pella man has received enhanced charges in relation to alleged sexual abuse. Last week, the Marion County Attorney’s Office filed to dismiss previous charges against 42-year-old Travis Wade Albers, who faced two class D felonies for lascivious acts with a child stemming from a March 2023 arrest.

According to court documents filed on January 18th, Albers now faces two counts of the same charge, but enhanced to a Class C felony, as well as two counts of indecent contact with a child. He entered a plea of not guilty following the submission of the new charges on January 19th.

According to court records, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation in 2022 after they learned of statements made by a juvenile claiming that Albers had touched that individual inappropriately. Albers denied the claims to the investigator. During a follow up interview with the victim, the juvenile provided further details about the alleged incidents occurring multiple times.

Albers was employed as a youth leader at Trinity Reformed Church prior to the original arrest last year. The church released a statement then to various media outlets:

“The Consistory of Trinity Church was informed back in November of 2022, that Travis Albers had criminal accusations made against him. As a result of this, the Executive Committee of the Consistory immediately placed Travis on administrative leave. It is important to note that these accusations are not related to his work in Trinity’s youth ministries; the accusations do not involve any current or previous Youth Group members. Due to his arrest on March 5, 2023, the Consistory terminated his employment. Trinity will continue to shepherd Travis and his family.”