Butler pastor charged with sexual assault of 2 more minors
A former Butler pastor accused last year of sexually assaulting three people was charged Wednesday, March 6, with felonies for similar misconduct against two minors, according to documents.
Herman C. Rushing Jr., 68, of Butler, was accused by state police of inappropriately touching an 11-year-old girl and a 9-year-old girl, according to the newly filed charges. Police said the 11-year-old was assaulted repeatedly for over a year.
He was charged by state police with felonies indecent assault, corruption of minors, child endangerment and misdemeanors indecent assault and child endangerment.
According to police, Rushing also was accused in December of sexually assaulting two girls and the indecent assault of an adult female congregation member.
Rushing was the pastor of By His Grace Ministries.
Documents filed Wednesday indicated reports of the assaults were received Feb. 7 by police.
On Feb. 13, forensic interviews were conducted with the 11-year-old and 9-year-old at the Butler County Children’s Advocacy Center.
Police said the 11-year-old girl disclosed Rushing touched her inappropriately multiple times from the summer of 2022 to the fall of 2023 at a residence in Butler Township.
The 9-year-old girl disclosed Rushing touched her inappropriately once at a residence in Slippery Rock Township, documents showed.
A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for March 28 before District Judge Kevin O’Donnell.
In December, Rushing was accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl. He was charged with felonies and misdemeanors of indecent assault, corruption of minors and child endangerment for the alleged incidents and waived his right to a preliminary hearing on those charges Dec. 21.
Police charged him the following day with misdemeanor indecent assault in connection to an inappropriate incident with an adult female member of the congregation.
A preliminary hearing on the indecent assault charge is scheduled March 18 before District Judge William Fullerton.
