Clay County youth pastor charged with rape of child after alleged 2-year relationship
An associate youth pastor at an Excelsior Springs church is facing statutory rape charges after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a child for two years.
Donald Axtell, an associate youth pastor at Excelsior Springs Baptist Church, faces one count each of second-degree statutory rape, possession of child pornography and furnishing pornographic material to a minor, according to a press release from Cher Congour, a spokesperson with the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office .
The Excelsior Springs Baptist Church was not immediately available for comment Friday.
A juvenile victim told Excelsior Springs police officers around 11 a.m. Wednesday that the pair’s relationship began around July 2023 and continued through June 2025, according to a probable cause statement in support of Axtell’s arrest.
Officers arrested Axtell around 5 p.m. Thursday as he was driving on U.S. 69 Highway in Excelsior Springs, according to the probable cause statement.
Axtell allegedly initially denied having a relationship with the victim, officers said in the probable cause statement, but later confessed he did. He told officers the relationship had only started around six to seven months ago.
Axtell is being held in the Clay County Jail on a $100,000 bond, according to the press release. No court dates are currently set in his case.
The Excelsior Springs Police Department continues to investigate the report, and urges anyone with information to contact the department at (816) 630-2000.
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM.
