Former Youth Leader Jonathan King Meyer Accused of Abusing More Teen Boys, Three Testify

Holland Sentinel
February 7, 2012

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x574393795/Jonathan-King-Meyer-headed-to-court-on-first-degree-criminal-sexual-conduct

Meyer, Jonathan King

Allegan — The teens who testified Tuesday that they were sexually abused by a Holland man are three of several victims from at least two counties, a lawyer from the state attorney general's office told an Allegan County judge during a pretrial hearing.

"There are another number of kids included in this case," said attorney Paul Cusik. "There aren't only three witnesses."

Jonathan King Meyer, 32, will face trial in Allegan County Circuit Court for three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for the alleged sex assaults in 2006 and 2007. He was bound over to the circuit court after about 90 minutes of testimony Tuesday in district court.

The charges carry a penalty of life in prison for Meyer, a former lunchroom supervisor at Holland's West Middle School and youth leader at Christ Memorial Church in Holland.

Judge William Baillargeon set bond at $50,000. Meyer is not permitted to have contact with anyone under 18. He is permitted to see his 1-year-old and 4-year-old children under supervision.

Meyer was shackled to his chair during the preliminary examination, a hearing in which the judge determines if there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

The three victims — one is now 18 and the others now 19 — talked about how they met Meyer through church youth programs in middle school and saw him at school during lunch.

One teen's parents invited Meyer to watch their house while they were away, leaving one of the boys, then 13 or 14, home alone with Meyer who, according testimony, abused the teen in a spare room in the house.

"He was close to our family," the teen said. "We knew him as our leader and friend."

The Sentinel does not identify victims of alleged sex abuse.

The other teens testified that when they were 13 or 14, Meyer abused them late at night outside tennis courts in Laketown Township.

"He told us he could trust us," one teen said.

None of the three teens who testified told anyone at the time of the abuse.

The teens also worked for Meyer at his business called Macatawa Services.

The teens said Meyer acted inappropriately on many occasions, including during church trips Up North.

None of the alleged assaults took place at school or on school grounds, officials earlier said.