By John Agar
Grand Rapids Press
September 19, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/09/former_walker_pastor_to_stand.html
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| Tedd Butler |
GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP A former Walker pastor was ordered to stand trial today on allegations he sexually assaulted a young boy decades ago.
Tedd Butler, 46, was bound over to Kent County Circuit Court on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, but a second charge was dismissed after the alleged victim, now 30, testified about being assaulted when he was a young boy.
Butler is also facing a second-degree criminal-sexual conduct charge in Ottawa County involving an alleged 2006 incident with a 5 or 6 year old boy.
In court, the 30-year-old alleged victim testified that he was in a Minneapolis jail when police asked to talk to him. Minneapolis police Lt. Nancy Dunlap, assisting Ottawa County sheriff's detectives, said she told the alleged victim she wanted to ask about incidents that occurred during his childhood.
He immediately said, 'Is this about Ted?' Dunlap testified, before Kent County District Judge Steven Servaas.
The man testified that Butler touched him at church, and at Butler's family farm. Butler was youth pastor at the now disbanded Landmark Baptist Church in Algoma Township.
The alleged victim said he never told anyone about being abused until the investigator met him.
Defense attorney Frank Stanley noted that the alleged victim, who periodically stayed the night with Butler, was a deep sleeper and wet the bed. Stanley suggested that Butler only was cleaning up after the alleged victim wet the bed, and questioned his memory.
Butler is free on bond.
He awaits a probable-cause hearing on allegations he sexual assaulted a boy whose family attended Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walker where Butler served as pastor.
He has been suspended pending the outcome of the case, the church said.
E-mail John Agar: jagar@grpress.com
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