By Leah Thorsen
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
March 1, 2006
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/
metroeast/story/265F81A04AF2F6F586257125001BEF62?OpenDocument
GRANITE CITY
An associate pastor at Mount Zion General Baptist Church fondled a boy who spent the night at his home, police said.
Madison County prosecutors on Wednesday charged Anthony Muzzarelli, 27, of Granite City, with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Authorities say the incidents occurred over the weekend.
The boy, 13, and Muzzarelli knew each other through Muzzarelli's position at the church, where he was a music director and also had administrative duties, police said.
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Anthony Muzzarelli (Handout) |
A woman who answered the phone Wednesday afternoon at the church, in the 2800 block of Mockingbird Lane, said she could not comment on the situation.
Police say the boy was not at Muzzarelli's home for a church event.
Muzzarelli remained in the Granite City jail late Wednesday afternoon in lieu of $100,000 bail.
His brother, David Muzzarelli of Granite City, said Wednesday that Anthony Muzzarelli was a man who loves God. He doesn't believe the allegations, David Muzzarelli said.
"There's no reason to believe it," he said. "He's always been a good kid."
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