A New York City police officer and church pastor has been charged with raping a 16-year-old girl he met through the Bronx church youth program where he ministered.

According to the New York Daily News, 38-year-old Vladimir Sosa faces third degree rape, sexual misconduct and child endangerment charges. He was taken into custody early Tuesday night and has since been released on his own recognizance.

"He abused his two positions of authority, both public and vestal," Bronx Assistant District Attorney Joelle Morabito said of the seven-year officer. A family friend described the girl to the newspaper as "innocent" who was seduced by an older man.

"She's doing very bad," the source added. "She used to be a top student, a virgin, a girl that was in love with God and this man seduced her," said the woman, who also knew Sosa. "She is crying, very depressed ... I can say that he destroyed her life. This man used to be a good man, but only God knows when he let the devil take control of his life," she said.

Investigators from the Internal Affairs Bureau arrived at the Bronx home Sosa shares with his mother early Tuesday to take him in for questioning.

"We don't know what's going on," his mother, who asked The News that she not be identified, said. "We can't say anything right now."

Authorities add Sosa and the girl are believed to have been romantically linked for as long as seven months last year and are thought to have had consensual sex on at least three different occasions at his apartment. The teen's family only recently found out about the illicit affair, and her mother instantly contacted police.

Sosa's attorney, Cary London, insist there is no physical evidence connecting his client to any crime. "There has never been a situation where they have been alone in the same room together," said London.