An associate youth leader at Excelsior Springs Baptist Church was arrested and charged this week in connection with sex crimes involving a minor going back to 2023.

According to court documents, on Wednesday morning, Nov. 11, Excelsior Springs police interviewed a female victim who alleged multiple instances of sexual assault involving the suspect.

The victim told police the crimes started in 2023 when she was 15 years old. The first alleged incident took place in July 2023.

The victim detailed additional alleged assaults in Dec. 2023 in a classroom at the church. The victim was 16 years old at the time.

The alleged assaults continued in July 2024 and June 2025.

Following the interview, Excelsior Springs police located the suspect, identified as Donald Axtell, 37, on Thursday, Nov. 13

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