Butler County Jehovah’s Witness Member Convicted of 1990s Child Sexual Assault

BUTLER COUNTY, Pa. — A Butler County man and member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been convicted of sexually assaulting a child with a mental disability in the 1990s, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

Shaun Sheffer, 45, was found guilty of three counts of rape involving a person with a mental disability and three counts of indecent assault. The charges stemmed from a 2023 grand jury investigation into multiple Jehovah’s Witnesses members.

“This defendant sexually assaulted a victim who was wholly vulnerable due to their age and mental disability,” said Attorney General Michelle Henry. “I commend the grand jurors, the trial jurors, and, of course, the brave victim for ensuring a predator did not escape justice.”

Testimony revealed that Sheffer was a close acquaintance of the victim, who was between the ages of 7 and 12 during the assaults. The abuse occurred between 1995 and 2000 in Butler County.

Sheffer is scheduled to be sentenced on February 19. The case highlights ongoing efforts to address historical sexual abuse cases within religious organizations.