NAALEHU » A Big Island man indicted on molestation charges knew the alleged victims through a church in a remote Kau community, a prosecutor said.

Nicholas "Nick" Krivanek, 69, of Ocean View, is accused of molesting two girls under 14. An indictment alleges one victim was molested between 2007 and 2011 and the second victim was allegedly molested between 2009 and 2011.

"The victims did know him because of the church," Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Burleson told Hawaii Tribune-Herald. "I don’t know if they are members of the church themselves."

Krivanek was removed as a deacon and youth leader at Ocean View Evangelical Community Church after he confessed to church elders in 2011, said Larry Fisher, who was secretary of the elders at the time.

A condition to remaining a church member was that he not have anything to do with children, Fisher said.

"The pastor informed every church member after he was arrested a couple of Sundays ago," he said.

He was indicted last month on two counts of continuous sexual assault of a minor under 14. He pleaded not guilty. Trial is set for October. He couldn’t be reached Thursday at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, where he was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Fisher said Krivanek drove children to church activities, such as Sunday school and vacation bible school. The white-bearded Krivanek also played Santa Claus during church functions, Fisher said.

Church Pastor David Johnson couldn’t be reached for comment.