GRANITE CITY (IL)
Belleville News-Democrat
BY BRIAN BRUEGGEMANN
News-Democrat
GRANITE CITY - An associate pastor at a Granite City church was charged Wednesday with sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy who spent the night at his home.
Anthony K. Muzzarelli, 27, of Granite City, is accused of fondling the boy on Saturday night. Granite City Police Major Jeff Connor said the boy and Muzzarelli are acquainted through Muzzarelli's position at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Connor said the boy told his parents about the fondling after he got home from the sleep-over. The parents went to police on Saturday morning.
"The boy told his parents. We got involved and started an investigation," Connor said. "He was taken into custody Tuesday evening."
Police said the boy was not at Muzzarelli's home for a church event. The 13-year-old boy was the only person spending the night, Connor said.