Pastor May Have Sexually Assaulted Victim 60 Times
The court documents indicate he may have been sexually abused as many as 50-60 times.
Ottawa County Sheriff’s deputies started investigating Butler, pastor of Gospel Light Baptist Church since 2003, more than a year ago after a young boy told his parents that Butler had touched him inappropriately when back in 2006. Detectives say the boy went to Bulter’s church and was five years old at the time of the alleged incident.
The led investigators to make hundreds of calls to past churches and church members. They found a 30 year old man, who is now living in a different state. The man said Butler performed sexual acts on him when he was around five years old, back in the late ’80s. Butler was working at Landmark Baptist Church in Algoma back then.
According to detectives, the church used to bus in kids from Grand Rapids for youth programs and that’s where the alleged victim met Butler. He faces first degree criminal sexual conduct for that case in Kent County.
Butler is currently out on $100,000 bond. His attorney and the churches involved were not available for comment.
Butler turned himself in on Wednesday. Butler previously served at churches in Princeville, IL, and in Newaygo, MI. His arraignment for the Kent County case is scheduled for August 31st.