Prosecutor: Youth Minister Sexually Assaulted Two Girls in South Brunswick, Elsewhere

A youth minister from a Franklin church is accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls in South Brunswick, North Brunswick and Hillsborough, authorities said.

Shawn Butler, 48, of Hillsborough was arrested on April 3 at a relative’s home in Millsboro, Delaware by members of the Delaware State Police Troop 7, authorities said.

He was charged with one count of sexual assault and two counts each of criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child, according to a news release from Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka and North Brunswick Police Director Kenneth McCormick.

According to an August 2014 article on NJ.com, Butler was charged last year with violating New Jersey’s Megan’s Law statute by knowingly volunteering for a youth ministry.

That article said he served seven years in state prison for a sexual assault conviction, but then “served as a chaperone, mentor and counselor to youths aged from 12 to 18 years old.”

According to a news release issued Wednesday by the Prosecutor’s Office:

Butler had been a youth minister at the Eternal Life Christian Center in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, and at the time of the assaults, he served on the church’s executive board.

Police determined Butler sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl in North Brunswick on various occasions between July 2012 and August 2013.

Butler is also accused of improperly touching a 15-year-old girl in South Brunswick and in Hillsborough on a number of occasions between March 2014 and June 2014.

Police launched the investigation after the 15-year-old victim contacted the South Brunswick police in July.

Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Mark Morris and South Brunswick Detective Roger Tuohy handled the investigation.

Butler was released from custody in Delaware after posting $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to surrender to authorities in New Jersey on May 1. Bail in New Jersey has been set at $300,000.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Morris at (732) 745-4194 or Tuohy at 732-329-4646.

Photo courtesy Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office; Shawn Butler