Ohio Pastor Had Sex with 2 Underage Girls: Doj

By Chris Mosby
Patch
May 14, 2018

https://patch.com/ohio/toledo/ohio-pastor-had-sex-2-underage-girls-doj

A former Toledo-area pastor had sex with two underage girls, including a victim of sexual abuse, according to a plea agreement released by the Department of Justice. Kenneth Butler will now likely spend the next 17 years of his life in prison.

"This defendant has admitted to crimes that include preying on a foster child who was previously the victim of sexual abuse, and he committed these crimes in a house of worship," U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. "Butler may hold himself out to the community as a pastor, but in the eyes of the law he is a criminal who pays money to sexually assault children."

According to Butler's plea agreement, between 2015 and March 2017, the pastor had sex with two girls both under the age of 18. On different occasions, he gave the girls small amounts of cash or rides before engaging in sexual acts.

Prior to coming to Toledo, Butler was a pastor of a Detroit church for five years. His church closed in 2013, and then he moved south and became a member of the Greater Life Christian Center in Toledo. Butler became friends with Anthony Haynes, who was the lead pastor of the church at that time.

In 2014, Haynes told Butler that a juvenile girl had moved into his home. He allegedly told Butler that the girl was sexually abused by family members when she was young.

In late 2015, according to the plea agreement, Butler was picked up by Haynes. The girl was already in Haynes' car. The three of them allegedly went to the Greater Life Christian Center and the girl began to undress. Haynes reportedly told Butler, "You owe me" and then laughed, while the girl stripped.

The two pastors allegedly performed oral sex on the girl and then took turns having unprotected vaginal intercourse, according to the Department of Justice. Butler knew the girl was not 18-years-old. The next day, Haynes and Butler allegedly discussed how fun their encounter had been.

The Greater Life Christian Center closed in 2016. Haynes then opened a new church called University Bible Fellowship in Toledo. The plea agreement said Haynes asked Butler to meet him, and the girl, at the new church.

Butler met the pair and then took the girl to a job interview. He drove her to the business and then brought her back to the church. Once they returned to University Bible Fellowship, the juvenile allegedly performed oral sex on both Haynes and Butler and then the men took turns having unprotected vaginal intercourse with her.

A month later, Butler picked the juvenile up from school, drove to a secluded area and had unprotected sex with her inside his car. A few weeks later, he rented a motel room in Toledo and had sex with the girl again.

In early 2017, Butler went to the girl's house. On the way, he allegedly called and spoke with Haynes. The juvenile then asked for $30 for her fair. Butler replied, "You better be nice and naked."

Butler and the girl had sex again. Afteward, he gave her $30.

When Butler discovered there was a federal investigation looking into his conduct, he deleted text messages about his relationship with the juvenile.

The plea agreement also said that Butler had sex with another underage girl around the same time. That juvenile was a member of the Greater Life Christian Center. The two met in 2016. Shortly after their meeting, Butler started his own church in the Detroit-area.

Butler would drive the girl to his church in Michigan. The girl would watch' Butler's children during church services.

In 2017, while driving back from his Detroit church, Butler pulled off the road and had sex with the girl. He knew the girl was not 18-years-old, according to the plea agreement.

On October 4, 2017, the girl called Butler. During their talk, Butler told her to lie to federal investigators if they asked about them having sex, according to court documents.

Butler pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to sex traffic children, two counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation. As part of his plea agreement, both sides will ask for a sentence of 210 months in prison. Butler will be sentenced in September.

Three other people have been indicted as a result of this investigation. Rev. Cordell Jenkins and Anthony Haynes have both been indicted. Former Lucas County administrator and wife of Rev. Cordell Jenkins, Laura Lloyd-Jenkins, 43, also was indicted on a charge of making a false statement.