(NC)
WRAL [Raleigh, NC]
August 14, 2025
By Shaun Gallagher
A warrant issued for 30-year-old Shelton Burkart alleged that on June 24, 2024, he “knowingly” possessed visual material of children, ages 8 to 12, naked in dressing rooms and engaging in sexual activity.
A Warren County pastor was arrested on felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the SBI Computer Crimes Unit.
A warrant issued for 30-year-old Shelton Burkart alleged that on June 24, 2024, he “knowingly” possessed visual material of children, ages 8 to 12, naked in dressing rooms and engaging in sexual activity.
While Burkart is living in and charged in Warren County, the warrant was issued from the State Bureau of Investigation Computer Crimes Unit in Raleigh. It is not clear from the warrant how SBI knew to find and charge Burkart.
He’s been charged with five felony counts each of second degree- and third degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to the North Carolina SBI, Burkart is a pastor at Zion Global Methodist Church in Norlina.
Burkart is being held under a $200,000 bond. He appeared for the first time in court Tuesday, and had a bond review/modification hearing on Thursday.
On Friday, WRAL News went to Zion Methodist Church. The chair of the church did not want to be interviewed on camera, but said Burkart was relieved of his duties last week.
The chair said, “We do not uphold what he has done. It breaks our hearts. We are praying for him and his family.”
WRAL News spoke Friday with Safe Child Executive Director Cristin Deronja.
“It’s hard for it not to be alarming to communities at large,” Deronja said.
DeRonja said it’s an opportunity for parents to talk to their children about safety. She said these stories make parents uneasy, in need of local authorities to keep them informed.
WRAL News asked Warren County Sheriff John Branche what his message is to the public.
“I do understand the concern of the public because as a religious leader, they place their belief in that individual, their trust in that individual,” Branche said.
Branche said investigators do not believe Burkart physically abused any children locally.