Former Salem City Pastor's Alleged Sexual Assault Victim Was a Relative, Officials Say

By Alex Young
South Jersey Times
April 14, 2014

http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2014/04/former_salem_city_pastors_alleged_sexual_assault_victim_was_his_grandson_officials_say.html

Former Pastor of the Salem Presbyterian Church, Jonathan Smith, was arraigned on child sexual assault charges before Judge Timothy Farrell, Monday, April 14, 2014. (Staff Photo by Cindy Hepner/South Jersey Times)

The former Salem City pastor accused of sexually assaulting a minor was arraigned Monday in Superior Court, where it was revealed that a young relative was his alleged victim.

Jonathan H. Smith, 59, appeared at the county courthouse on Market Street to hear the charges filed against him and entered a plea of not guilty before Superior Court Judge Timothy Farrell.

While reading a summary of the case during the hearing, Assistant Salem County Prosecutor Lisa Rastelli revealed that the alleged victim was a minor relative, who spent time at Smith’s Market Street home, the Presbyterian pastor's house, during the summer of 2013.

Rastelli said the boy’s mother became concerned when he returned home after his time in Salem and something didn’t seem right.

The boy told his mother about the alleged incidents who then alerted the authorities.

The alleged assault occurred between five and 10 times and included the two sleeping in the same bed, showering together and various types of sexual contact, according to Rastelli.

Smith — who currently resides in Ocean Springs, Miss. — was arrested on Nov. 14, 2013, and charged with sexual assault, sexual assault of a minor under the age of 13 and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was initially jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility, in Mannington, but was later released on $150,000 bail, according to court files.

About a month before his arrest, Smith resigned suddenly from his post as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church Salem, a position he held for the better part of a decade. He cited “personal and medical issues” as his reason for leaving, according to officials from the church.

Smith was offered a plea deal that includes a five-year prison sentence, 85-percent of which would have to be served before he became eligible for parole.

If convicted of the most serious charge he was indicted on — first-degree aggravated sexual assault — Smith could face a sentence of between 10 and 20 years in state prison.

Smith will next appear in court on June 13, and Farrell set June 23, as the cutoff for him to consider the plea deal.

Smith declined comment following the hearing.

Contact staff writer Alex Young at 856-451-1000 ext. 550 or alexyoung@southjerseymedia.com