Former Fort Leonard Wood youth ministry director admits to sexual abuse

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A former director of youth ministry at Fort Leonard Wood has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing four minors, including during the youth group’s ski trips to Colorado and on camping trips.

Forty-two-year-old David McKay, of Waynesville, admitted through the plea he entered Thursday that the abuse happened dozens of times from 2010 to 2017, including at the fort. The four victims ranged in age from 11 to 17.

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McKay, an Army National Guard first sergeant who worked at the fort’s Religious Services Office, faces between 10 years and life in prison for transporting a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and four counts of sexually abusing a minor.

The sentencing date hasn’t been set.

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