By Barton Deiters
Grand Rapids Press
December 12, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/12/former_pastor_pleads_guilty_to.html
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| Former Walker pastor Ted Butler, left, appears inside the Kent County Courthouse Monday, December 12, 2011. |
Former Pastor Tedd Butler was facing a long time behind bars after being charged in Kent County with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The charges result from allegations made by a man in incidents more than 20 years ago when 46-year-old Butler was youth pastor at the now disbanded Landmark Baptist Church in Algoma Township.
But today, he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct which lowers the penalties from a potential life felony to a high-court misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of two years in jail.
This afternoon, Butler quietly affirmed that he touched the buttocks of a boy younger than 13.
“He started going to our Sunday School,” said Butler when asked how he met the boy by Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Sullivan.
The Kent County plea is dependent on Butler pleading guilty Tuesday to second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ottawa County Circuit Court.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Department reported that an 11-year-old boy disclosed details to his parents about the alleged 2006 assault that took place at Butler's Tallmadge Township home, leading to Butler's arrest.
Butler, his attorney Frank Stanley and the numerous people in court to hear the plea refused to speak about the allegations. Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Helen Brinkman was also not available.
Butler plans to turn himself in to the Kent County Jail this week to begin serving his sentence.
He will be formally sentenced on Jan. 31.
E-mail Barton Deiters: bdeiters@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/GRPBarton
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