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	Youth Group Leader Admits to Fondling By Carl Hessler Jr. Pottstown Mercury June 29, 2009 http://www.pottstownmercury.com/articles/2009/06/29/news/srv0000005710151.txt NORRISTOWN — A New Hanover church youth group leader solemnly admitted to a judge that he had indecent contact with a teenage girl who attended the church. David Benson Lewis, 24, of the 2900 block of Reifsnyder Road, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges of endangering the welfare of a child, indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor in connection with incidents that occurred between July and August of 2008. The girl was 15 years old at the time of the incidents and Lewis was 23. The open plea means Lewis has no deals with prosecutors regarding his potential punishment. Judge William J. Furber Jr. deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Lewis and he can be evaluated by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board, which will determine if Lewis meets criteria under the state's Megan's Law to be declared a sexually violent predator. Those deemed to be predators face more stringent restrictions under Megan's Law, including a lifetime requirement to report their addresses to state police, mandatory counseling and community notification about their living arrangements. The judge will use those reports to assist him in sentencing Lewis later this year. Lewis, who is represented by defense lawyer Judith Watts, faces a possible maximum sentence of seven to 14 years in prison on the charges. State sentencing guidelines would allow for jail sentences ranging from three to 12 months. Lewis remains free on $20,000 unsecured bail, pending his next court hearing. Assistant District Attorney Samantha Cauffman vowed to seek jail time against Lewis. "He admitted that he violated a duty of care. He was a youth group adviser and shouldn't have taken advantage of that position and started an intimate relationship with the victim," Cauffman said. Lewis, according to a criminal complaint filed by New Hanover police, is the son of David M. Lewis, pastor of New Hanover United Methodist Church. The elder Lewis, according to the arrest affidavit, reported his son's conduct to child social service officials when he learned about the conduct on Sept. 1. That call started the police investigation, court documents indicate. At the time of his arrest, David Benson Lewis was listed on the church Web site as being a member of the leadership team of the church youth group. On Sept. 1, according to a criminal complaint, the younger Lewis confessed his conduct to his father, claiming he had had an "improper relationship" with the teenage girl. The indecent contact involved inappropriate touching, according to court documents. "The defendant decided to confess to his father because he had been contacted earlier in the day by the juvenile's mother, who had called to speak to the defendant's father about the incidents," said township police officer Dekkar Dyas. Father and son then met with the girl's parents. During that meeting, the younger Lewis admitted to touching the girl inappropriately, the arrest affidavit said. The following day, the elder Lewis reported the incident to a child abuse hot line, according to the arrest affidavit. When he was interviewed by police, the younger Lewis claimed he touched the girl inappropriately on several occasions when the girl was in his company after church functions. The incidents occurred at various locations in the township but not at the church, court documents indicate. "During the interview, the defendant acknowledged that he knew the juvenile was only 15 years of age," Dyas wrote in the arrest affidavit. Contact: chessler@pottsmerc.com
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