VERDICT: Active Jehovah’s Witness Member Found Guilty on 7 Counts of Child Sexual Abuse

Shaun Sheffer Criminal Trial 2025

January 19th, 2025

Butler Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas

A jury of 12 has found Shaun Sheffer, 46, guilty on 7 counts of the rape and sexual assaults on a minor 7-12 years of age from 1995 to 2000.

The trial took place in the Butler County Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, with 17 witnesses testifying for the State and the defense.

The case revolved around whether the jury believed the testimony of one victim, a female who claims Sheffer raped her as many as 75 times during a 5-year period, when the victim was 7-12 years of age. 

In closing arguments, State Prosecutor Alicia Werner told the jury that the evidence of only one witness is sufficient for a conviction if the jury examines all of the testimony and believes the victim. 

The defendant’s attorney summed up the evidence presented over four days to a jury of 9 men and 7 women, including alternates. Defense attorney Benjamin Steinberg told the jury that there was simply too much reasonable doubt to convict Sheffer. 

The courtroom was visibly divided by members of the Jehovah’s Witness Church, seated on the defendant’s side in support, and reporters and family of Sheffer’s brother Brandon, who testified against Sheffer. 

Brandon, the younger brother of Shaun Sheffer, testified on Tuesday that when he was a teenager, the alleged victim told him that Shaun was doing “sex stuff” to him. The victim told Brandon that this occurred numerous times in various rooms of the Sheffer home.

The Defense strategy centered around attacking the credibility of Brandon Sheffer, who is no longer a Jehovah’s Witness. Brandon testified that after he left the Church, he heard about the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Investigation into Jehovah’s Witnesses, and he and his wife Jessica called the 800 Tip Line to report what happened between 1995 and 2000.

The defendant’s father, Tim Sheffer was called to the stand on Wednesday, testifying that he knew of the allegations of the sexual assaults against the victim years prior, but he never once spoke to the victim about what happened. 

Also called to the stand was Elder Steven Chappel of the Zelienople Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Butler County. Chappell stated that the Defendant, Shaun Sheffer asked him to meet to disclose the fact that allegations of rape were being made against him. 

Chappel told the court that he called the Legal Department of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York to “Find out what [they] would like us to say.” The Commonwealth offered Exhibit 1, a 2016 letter from Watchtower to the local elders about the sexual abuse allegations. The defense objected to this letter, and Judge Joseph E. Kubit denied the motion to admit the letter as trial evidence. 

Chappel also stated that Shaun Sheffer’s statement to the elders was not a confession, since he denied everything. He was also asked if he spoke to the victim, and Chappel stated that he did not communicate with the victim, and suggested that the victim’s status as a non-baptized member may have influenced that decision. 

Neither Church Elders nor any family members reported the rape allegations to law enforcement at any time until Brandon Sheffer came forward after leaving the Church, and after hearing about the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Investigation into Jehovah’s Witnesses. 


Sentencing by Judge Kubit is scheduled for April 25th, 2025

Case Docket

Media Coverage

Office of the Attorney General Press Release

CBS News

CBS News Pittsburgh

ABC 27 News

Butler Eagle

 

 

 

 

 

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