Herman C. Rushing Jr.

BUTLER TWP — Bail was lowered Thursday, Dec. 21, for a Butler pastor accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls.

The bail for Herman C. Rushing Jr., 67, was reduced from $75,000 to $50,000 with provisions for house arrest and pre-trial supervision should he be released from Butler County Prison.

District Judge Kevin O’Donnell made the change after Rushing, who was the pastor of By His Grace Christian Ministries in Butler, waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

“I think the defendant is well aware any violation of his bond conditions would lead to immediate incarceration,” Rushing’s public defender James Spriestersbach said.

He requested Rushing be placed on an unsecured bond and given house arrest.

J.P. Kulzer, assistant district attorney, opposed the bond reduction, arguing Rushing has out-of-state contacts and the serious charges against him.

Rushing is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with two girls under the age of 16 on numerous occasions. Police said he also engaged in inappropriate sexual acts with an adult female member of the congregation.

Rushing was charged Dec. 6 with felonies and misdemeanors of indecent assault, corruption of minors and child endangerment for the alleged incidents involving 13-year-old and 16-year-old girls.

Charges have yet to be filed in regard to the assault of the adult congregation member, according to Trooper Bertha Cazy, public information officer for Troop D.