Acting Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced sexual abuse charges against five members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, while four other Jehovah’s Witnesses were charged for similar acts in October 2022 by former Attorney General now-Governor Josh Shapiro.
- Marc Brown, 65, of Allegheny County, is alleged to have sexually abused two young female family members who were between the ages of ten and 13, and for whom he was the legal guardian. Brown has been charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
- Raymond Shultz, 74, of Beaver County, is alleged to have sexually abused female family members when they were between the ages of five and ten years-old. Shultz has been charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
- Abimael Valentin-Matos, 42, of Lancaster County, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 15 year-old girl, who he was supposedly “courting” to eventually marry even though he was twice her age. Matos has been charged with Indecent Assault, Indecent Exposure, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
- Kevin Isovitsch, 51, of Butler County, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a female family member, who was nine years-old. Isovitsch has been charged with Rape, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
- Norman Aviles, 44, of Lancaster County, is alleged to have molested at least three young children between the ages of five and ten. Aviles was an elder in his congregation, which helped him gain the trust of many parents and afforded him access to their children. Aviles has been charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
Read the press release for more information.
Map of Jehovah’s Witnesses accused of child sex abuse in Pennsylvania provided by thesilenceofthelambsand.me/map.
My old PA congregation had issues back in the late 70s to early 80s. My own father knew and did nothing in reporting it. This is much more widespread than you realize.
I’m so glad the authorities are cracking down on this. Growing up in the cult I had several friends, including my first husband, who was sexually abused by other Witnesses. I thought those were rare cases, but in truth this was a systemic pervasive problem all along.
I’m so grateful when I see that investigations are ongoing and that it may be possible for the victims to receive justice. The Jehovah’s Witnesses religion destroys families with their terrible policies that get handed down from the governing body in upstate New York.