Pastor Held on Suspicion of Sexual Molestation : Crime: Pasadena minister pleads not guilty to seven felony counts in connection with alleged assaults on 15-year-old.

The pastor of a Pasadena church was in custody Thursday on suspicion of sexually molesting a 15-year-old girl over a two-month period at the girl’s Glendale home, authorities said.

The Rev. George Nathan Bolden Jr., head minister at First African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, was charged with seven felony counts, including three of lewd acts on a child, two of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, one of attempted unlawful sexual intercourse and one of oral copulation, prosecutors said.

The 33-year-old Bolden, who was arrested Tuesday by Glendale police as he was driving away from his Altadena home, pleaded not guilty Thursday during an arraignment at Glendale Municipal Court. Commissioner Daniel Calabro set a preliminary hearing for Aug. 9.

Bolden’s public defender, Stuart Rosen, declined to comment, and no one returned a message left at the dome-shaped church at 1087 N. Raymond Ave.

Allegations against the pastor surfaced July 21 when the victim’s mother learned of the alleged attacks from her daughter and filed a complaint against Bolden with Glendale Police. The mother and daughter are among the 200 members of the church congregation, according to prosecutors and court records.

“He (Bolden) is her mother’s acquaintance,” said Glendale police spokesman Chahe Keuroghelian. “Apparently, he had shown some kind of interest in the victim beginning in early March.”

Investigators allege that the molestations occurred at the victim’s home on May 14 and May 26 and on June 21.

Bolden, who moved to Pasadena from Rhode Island about three years ago, has achieved some prominence in Pasadena civic work. His church is part of a consortium of a dozen churches that received a $250,000 grant to offer community services, such as tutoring and child care, in northwest Pasadena.

The pastor served as secretary for that group, United Churches for Empowered Community.

Last May, Bolden read the invocation at the Pasadena City Council’s biennial reorganization meeting, at which newly elected council members are sworn in.

Most recently, he has served as a spiritual adviser to Pasadena Councilman Isaac Richard, a member of First AME Zion Church.

On Thursday, Bolden’s neighbors were shocked to hear of the pastor’s arrest. Neighbors said the clergyman is married, but has no children.

“They’re lovely people. . . . They’re quiet,” said neighbor Grace Jones, 70, who frequently visits Bolden’s church. “When my husband died, I didn’t even know him, (but) he called to say if there’s anything he could do . . . “

Bolden remained in custody in lieu of $112,500 bail.

Times staff writer Edmund Newton contributed to this story.