TORONTO - An HIV positive youth pastor at a church in Courtice, ON, is accused of luring a 15-year-old boy online and attempting to meet the youngster for "a sexual encounter," and cops believe there could be more victims nationwide.

Police claim the 42-year-old Newcastle, ON, man, who allegedly used collegetoy2033 as his profile name, befriended the teen online not knowing the boy was actually an undercover police officer.

Investigators found the accused at the pre-arranged meeting spot. After arresting him, police learned he was a youth pastor at the Trulls Road Free Methodist Church in Courtice, about 60 km east of Toronto.

Kris Allan Gowdy, who was taken into custody Thursday, is charged with luring a child via computer and attempted aggravated sexual assault.

Det. Randy Norton warned he "has travelled extensively over the last decade.

Norton he was quick to point out "this luring incident is in no way connected to the church."

Debi Gunter, office administrator at Trulls Road Free Methodist, said the church was not immediately prepared to comment on the arrest.

"The church is fully co-operating with police," she said. "And obviously we have zero-tolerance for this sort of thing."

Police claim Gowdy admitted in 2009 he had been diagnosed with HIV and that he may have contracted the virus some time in the '90s.

"The accused had an extensive social media presence and investigators are concerned there may be further victims," Norton said.

He said the Gowdy was also a church youth counsellor in several communities across Canada, including Sussex, NB, Amherstview, ON, Saskatoon and as south of the border in Rochester, NY.

Anyone with new information in this case is asked to contact Det. Randy Norton at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5363, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).