New Jersey Youth Minister Arrested on Sex Abuse Charges: Prosecutors

NBC New York
April 9, 2015

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/New-Jersey-Youth-Minister-Arrested-Sexual-Abuse-Teenage-Girls-299101311.html

Shawn Butler

A New Jersey youth minister has been arrested on charges he sexually assaulted two teenage girls, prosecutors say.

Shawn Butler, 48, of Hillsborough, is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in North Brunswick multiple times between July 2012 and August 2013, and of improperly touching a 15-year-old girl in South Brunswick and in Hillsborough numerous times between March 2014 and June 2014, prosecutors say.

Police began investigating Butler after the 15-year-old girl contacted South Brunswick police last July.

Butler was working as a youth minister at the Eternal Life Christian Center in the Somerset section of Franklin Township and served on the church's executive board at the time of the alleged assaults, prosecutors said. It's not clear if he knew his victims through the church.

Butler was arrested by Delaware State Police at a relative's home in Millsboro, Del., prosecutors said. He was released on $50,000 bail there and is expected to surrender to authorities in New Jersey on May 1.

Attorney information for Butler wasn't immediately available. A message has been left with the church.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-4194 or South Brunswick Police at 732-208-4896.