PARAMUS (NJ)
nj.com [New Jersey]
July 13, 2024
By Anthony G. Attrino
A 74-year-old church pastor in Bergen County was charged Thursday with 21 crimes – 18 of them sex offenses involving a teen over several years, authorities said.
The Rev. Stephen E. Sweet, of Paramus, assaulted the teen, who was between the ages of 13 and 18, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.
The assaults allegedly occurred in River Edge, Paramus and Ridgewood, Musella said.
Sweet is pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in River Edge. He was ordained and installed in 1997, according to the church website.
A woman who answered the phone at the church Friday said there was currently no one available to comment on the arrest or charges.
Musella said the prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit was contacted Thursday regarding the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile that had occurred in the past.
An investigation revealed Sweet sexually assaulted the child on multiple occasions over the years, Musella said.
Sweet is charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, 10 counts of second-degree sexual assault, three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, three counts of third-degree criminal sexual contact, and three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
Sweet was arrested in Paramus and taken to the Bergen County Jail to await a court hearing. Court and jail records on Friday did not contain attorney information for Sweet.