dme court

A Harmony man convicted in January of raping a girl multiple times when she was 7 to 12 years old 25 years ago is seeking a new trial or dismissal of the charges, arguing that he was prosecuted based on his membership in Jehovah Witnesses.

A Butler County Common Pleas Court jury convicted Shaun P. Sheffer, 47, on felony charges of rape by forcible compulsion, rape of a mentally disabled person and rape of a person less than 13 years old; and misdemeanor charges of indecent assault of a person less than 13, indecent assault without consent, indecent assault of a person with a mental disability and corruption of minors. He is serving a sentence of 14 to 34 years in prison.

“This courtroom wreaked of religious persecution,” said defense attorney Al Lindsay, who represented Sheffer at his sentencing, but not his trial.

Lindsay said the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office secured a grand jury indictment of Sheffer in 2023 as a part of a series of sexual assault indictments against Jehovah Witnesses members across the state.

He argued that it was prejudicial for Alicia Werner, the deputy attorney general who prosecuted the case, to tell the jury about those indictments in her opening statement.

Lindsay said Werner also used religion to test the credibility of Sheffer and defense witnesses, but their religion is not relevant to the case.

He cited a court rule in the Pennsylvania Code saying a witness’s religion cannot be used to attack their credibility.

The testimony of the woman, who was 36 at the time of the trial, should have been the only issue, he said. She testified that she had permanent injuries, but a doctor who examined her testified that she had no injuries, he said.

Lindsay said Sheffer should have a new trial or the case against him should be dismissed. He said it could take over a year for a new trial to begin.

Werner countered Lindsay’s arguments, saying the victim’s testimony was enough to convict Sheffer.

She said she challenged the credibility of defense witnesses who testified that they cut off communication with the victim many years ago after she left the religion. Werner said those witnesses also described the victim as a liar and manipulative.

She said jurors were asked during the selection process if religion would effect their decision making.

Werner said the medical examination of the woman was conducted when she was an adult, many years after the assaults took place.

Judge Joseph Kubit, who presided over the trial, said he would issue a ruling on Lindsay’s post sentence motion by Oct. 10.