MOSCOW, Idaho -- Latah County prosecutors confirm the pastor at the New Hope Baptist Church in Moscow has been arrested on a sex crimes warrant out of Southern California.

kgw.com graphic

William Malgren is now being held on $1 million bond. The arrest warrant accuses Malgren of performing sex acts on a child under 16 years of age and continuous sexual abuse of a minor.

Investigators tell KREM 2 News the abuse happened in the mid-80's, when Malgren lived in Southern California.

Family members say the charges are "trumped up" and that they support Malgren unconditionally.