Kristen Ledbetter, an American pastor's daughter has been charged with sexually molesting a boy of just ten years of age.

According to The Sun UK, Kristen Ledbetter faces up to 40 years behind bars after allegations of child abuse came to light.

The 30-year-old, from Oklahoma, is accused of Lewd Acts to a Child Under 16 and forcible oral sodomy and will go on trial later this year.

Last October the 10-year-old boy’s dad is said to have told police his son had been s*xually assaulted by Ledbetter.

In a police interview, the child made disclosures of sexual abuse similar to what his father reported.

Pauls Valley Police Chief Mitch McGill told TV news channel KFOR said: “I think it’s probably the hardest case as an officer, or a detective that you would have to do is to investigate a child that`s been molested, or sexually assaulted.”

Ledbetter’s dad, Claude Ledbetter, is the pastor of Pauls Valley Church of the Nazarene.

He told NewsChannel 4 that his daughter is innocent and has been wrongfully accused.

Ledbetter is in the Garvin County Jail on a $150,000 dollar bond (£119,000).

The channel said the priest used to serve as the Chaplain for the Pauls Valley Police Department.

Officers said he left that position to avoid a conflict of interest.

Family friend Pastor Bruce Ford told the station: “I was shocked. I was shocked. I’ve known Kristen a while and, you know, the accusations are hard accusations.”

He added: “My encouragement to all of us is instead of pointing fingers to pray. “Pray for the family. Pray for the whole situation because that’s all we can do.”