Winslow Police: Church Organist Sexually Assaulted 5 Boys over 30 Years

By Joe Green
South Jersey Times
February 19, 2014

http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2014/02/winslow_police_church_organist_sexually_assaulted_5_boys_over_30_years.html

An area church organist is accused of sexually assaulting five minors over a 30-year period.

Joseph Cuthbert, 71, of Winslow Township, is charged with five counts each of aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was committed to Camden County Jail in default of $250,000 bail.

Police said one of the victims recently reported Cuthbert began sexually assaulting him sometime around September 2013. An investigation, they said, then turned up four more boys who’d allegedly also fallen victim to Cuthbert.

The accused came into contact with all of them while serving as an organist for churches in South Jersey, police said. Cuthbert had served that role most recently at Erial Community Church, in Gloucester Township.

"We are aware of the situation, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all who were affected," said the church's pastor, Dr. Carlyle Melleby, when contacted Wednesday.

Melleby declined to comment further, and details of Cuthbert's service at Erial — including how long he'd been there and whether he was still an organist there when arrested — were unclear.

Police are still investigating the alleged assaults. Anyone else who is a victim or knows of additional victims is asked to contact Winslow Detective Cary Robinson at 609-561-3300, ext. 1147.