Pemberton Twp. Deacon Charged with Sex Assault Pleads Not Guilty

By Danielle Camilli
PhillyBurbs
April 5, 2013

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/pemberton-twp-deacon-charged-with-sex-assault-pleads-not-guilty/article_03511af3-4d62-5376-9992-ef0d1586d3e8.html

Joseph Pullen, 60, of Pemberton Township was charged with aggravated sexual assault and other charges in the alleged molestation of a juvenile on two occasions, including a July 8 church services, authorities said.

A Pemberton Township deacon pleaded not guilty to charges that he molested two girls at Calvary Baptist Church during separate alleged incidents over the last three years.

Joseph V. Pullen Jr., 59, of Whispering Pines Boulevard in Pemberton Township, entered the plea at his arraignment in Burlington County Superior Court on Monday. Earlier this year, a Burlington County grand jury indicted him on three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and other related charges, said county First Assistant Prosecutor Raymond Milavsky.

Pullen was arrested last July after a girl and her family reported she had been sexually assaulted during a service at the Scrapetown Church where he served as a deacon, authorities said.

A second victim told police she was molested at Calvary Baptist back in 2010, according to court documents. Authorities also allege he sexually abused the same child in 2009 and 2011.

Pullen molested the second victim at undisclosed locations in Woodland and Tabernacle, according to court documents.

In court Monday, Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano placed a plea offer on the table that requires Pullen to plead guilty to certain charges and serve 10 years in state prison with no chance of parole for 8? years. If convicted at trial on just the three first-degree charges, the defendant could face 30 to 60 years in prison.

Pullen’s defense attorney was not available for comment Thursday.

Pullen first came to the attention of the Pemberton Township Police and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office in 2012 when the first victim, who was known to the defendant, reported alleged abuse at the church, authorities said.

The investigation was conducted by detectives from the township police force and the Prosecutor’s Office’s Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit. Anyone with information about the defendant that might be useful to authorities is asked to call 609-265-5879 to speak to a detective.