EDINBURG (June 24, 2009)--A 61-year-old South Texas minister was in jail Wednesday in lieu of $2 million bond on charges that he sexually abused two girls.

Tomas Gonzales of Mercedes was in the Hidalgo County Detention Center on Wednesday on eight counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child.

Gonzales was arraigned Tuesday night.

Gonzales is pastor at Templo Nueva Vida in the Weslaco area.

Mercedes police Sgt. Hugo Ramos Jr. says the case involves two girls who are related to the pastor.

The abuse allegedly happened when the teenagers visited his home.

Gonzales was summoned to the police station Monday for questioning.