Local Pastor Accused of Molestation, WWMT, August 25, 2011

Local Pastor Accused of Molestation

WWMT
August 25, 2011

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/molestation-1395117-newschannel-pastor.html

[with video]

Pastor Tedd Butler

A local pastor has been arrested for two counts of criminal sexual conduct and more charges could be coming.

Pastor Tedd Butler of the Gospel Light Church in Walker is accused of molesting at least two boys several years ago.

One of the cases is in Kent County, the other in Ottawa County, and one of the cases is more than two decades old.

This all started in 2010 when a young boy told his parents that he was sexually assaulted in 2006.

The investigation now spans four states and police they're talking to dozens of people.

Police say the 46-year-old Butler is accused of assaulting two victims, the first allegation involves a five-year-old boy in 2006. That boy attended the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walker, where Butler has been a pastor since 2003.

The abuse allegedly happened at Butler's former house in Tallmadge Township in Ottawa County.

As investigators looked into the pastor's past, it led them to a now shut down church, Landmark Baptist in Kent County's Algoma Township, and another alleged victim.

That case dates back to the 1980s. There a man, now living out of state, claims Butler sexually assaulted him when he was between five and eight years old. As a young boy, that man was part of a group that would get bussed back and forth from Grand Rapids to church.

“Right now no other victims have stepped up,” said Lt. Mark Bennett, Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. “We are still talking to several people, but in cases similar to this one, we know when word gets out, more people and victims step forward and we would encourage those folks to come forward.”

Pastor Butler has been at a number of churches. In the early '90s he was at Bills Lake Baptist Church in Newaygo for about five years. After that he went to a baptist church in Princeville, Illinois for another five years, then to Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walker in 2003.

Butler is scheduled to be arraigned on first degree criminal sexual conduct in Kent County on August 31st, and second degree criminal sexual conduct in Ottawa County on September 14th.

Police are not saying how many times the sexual assaults are alleged to have taken place. Neither the church nor Butler's lawyer had any comment.