Former Erial Church Organist Sentenced for Child Sex Assault

A former organist at the Erial Community Church in the Erial section of Gloucester Township has been sentenced to 20 years in state prison for sexually assaulting several juvenile boys, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Winslow Police Chief Robert Stimelski said Tuesday afternoon.

Joseph Cuthbert, 73, of the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

He will be required to serve at least 17 years of his prison term before becoming eligible for parole.

He was initially accused of sexually assaulting a boy beginning in September of 2013. The victim filed the charges with Winslow Township Police.

The Winslow Township Criminal Investigation Division discovered four additional victims over the course of their investigation. They said the assaults took place over the course of 30 years.

The victims were boys who were at least 13 but less than 16 years old.

Cuthbert came into contact with the juveniles while serving as an organist for several southern New Jersey churches, most recently the Erial Community Church.