Pastor's Attempt To Withdraw Sex Assault Plea Denied: Prosecutor

A judge has denied an attempt by a Burlington County pastor to withdraw his guilty plea in the sexual assault of four minors and inappropriate interaction with a fifth one, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced on Friday.

Harry L. Thomas, 74, of Medford, previously pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

He was scheduled to be sentenced last week, but his attorney attempted to withdraw the plea, saying the sentence of 20 years without parole amounted to a death sentence for the former pastor at Come Alive Church in Medford Township.

On Friday, the Hon. Jeanne T. Covert, P.J.Cr., denied the appeal, and sentenced Thomas to 18 years in New Jersey state prison.

“What we saw in court today was the unmasking of a true Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde,” Coffina said. “An individual who professed to take responsibility for his actions moved — unsuccessfully — to withdraw his guilty plea. An individual who professed to be a man of faith and who has made many positive contributions to strangers committed the ultimate act of betrayal against family members who loved and trusted him. There is no sentence that can approximate justice in light of this defendant’s despicable acts against these children, but it is gratifying that the victims have been spared the pain of a trial and the defendant almost certainly will spend the rest of his life in prison, where he never can harm a child again.”

Thomas was arrested in December and charged with multiple offenses that spanned several years ending in 2015. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office didn't release details concerning his crimes out of privacy concerns for the victims. It did say that all the assaults took place in Medford between 1999 and 2015. He pleaded guilty in February.

He was the pastor of Come Alive Church in Medford Township at the time of his arrest. The investigation revealed that the assaults occurred in Medford Township between 1999 and 2015.

“I want to commend Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Eife, Medford Township Detective William Knecht, BCPO Detective Jack Bowker, and BCPO victim advocate Nichole Borger for their diligence and sensitivity in prosecuting this case, and to wish the survivors and their families the strength to overcome the challenges they face in coming to terms with these crimes and moving forward with their lives,” Coffina said.

The attached image of Harry L. Thomas was previously provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office