OHIO
Mansfield News Journal

Written by
Mark Caudill
News Journal

MANSFIELD — Scott Butner is a notorious name in the history of First Presbyterian Church.

Butner, then 17, pleaded guilty to five counts of rape and five counts of gross sexual imposition in a child molestation case in 1992. He received a concurrent sentence of eight to 25 years in prison for the rape counts and a suspended 10-year sentence for the gross sexual imposition convictions.

Butner was a volunteer baby sitter at First Presbyerian Church, 399 S. Trimble Road, in 1990 and 1991 when the abuse happened. Richland County Prosecutor James Mayer Jr. said there were 18 victims between the ages of 4 and 10.

Butner has a parole hearing next Friday. Last month, Mayer met with a member of the parole board to express his opposition to Butner’s release.