HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Butler County jury has convicted a man of sexually assaulting a pre-teen child, beginning when the victim was seven-years-old.

Shaun Sheffer, 45, was charged in 2023 after a Statewide Investigating Grand Jury recommended charges against numerous members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith.

This week, Sheffer was convicted of three counts of rape — including rape of a person with a mental disability — and three counts of indecent assault.

Sheffer will be sentenced on February 19.

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

The charges stem from the 49th Investigating Grand Jury and were filed and prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General. The abuse happened around 1995 and 2000 in Butler County.

According to testimony, Sheffer was a close acquaintance of the victim and the assaults occurred when the victim was between the ages of seven and 12.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Alicia Werner.