Police say New Jersey pastor sexually abused child for five years

✝️ Stephen E. Sweet, 74, was charged with multiple misdemeanors

✝️ The allegations were reported this week

✝️ He has been pastor of a church in Paramus since 1997

PARAMUS – Nearly two dozen counts of sexual assault of a child have been filed against a pastor.

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said his office’s Special Victims Unit was contacted Thursday about the alleged sexual abuse of a juvenile by Stephen E. Sweet of Paramus. He was taken into custody the same day.

The 74-year-old committed “various sexual acts and sexual assaults” on multiple occasions over the course of several years when the child was between 13 and 18 years old. According to Musella, the assaults occurred at locations in River Edge, Paramus and Ridgewood.

Sweet is the pastor of Grace’s Lutheran Church in River Edge. According to the church’s website, he has been pastor of the church since 1997. His picture on the website shows a stole around his neck with pictures of children.

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21 charges

The pastor has been charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, ten counts of second-degree sexual assault, three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, three counts of third-degree aggravated sexual assault and three counts of fourth-degree aggravated sexual assault. He is being held in the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance.

The church did not respond to New Jersey 101.5’s request for comment Friday afternoon

The church’s website says Sweet is married and has two adult children.

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