Deacon Sexually Assaulted Child Multiple Times In Burlington Co.: Prosecutor

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — A church deacon was arrested Thursday after authorities say he sexually assaulted a child several times over a two-year period in Burlington County.

Shawn R. Tracey is a deacon at Burlington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Burlington City, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Investigation into Tracey began this week after authorities learned of his potential sexual abuse, officials said. Authorities found that Tracey sexually abused a girl under 13 years of age throughout a two-year period at multiple locations in the county.

Prosecutors withheld additional details on Friday to protect the victim's identity.

Tracey, 44, of Mount Holly, was charged Thursday with 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault (first-degree), 13 counts of debauching the morals of a child (second-degree), two counts of sexual assault (second-degree) and one count of showing obscene material to a minor (third-degree). He remains in the Burlington County Jail as of Friday as he awaits a detention hearing.

This isn't the first time Tracey has faced criminal charges. In July 2020, he was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and weapons offenses, according to court records Patch obtained.

Under a plea bargain, Tracey pleaded guilty to simple assault, a disorderly persons offense. Tracey was sentenced in October 2020 to two years of probation. He was also required to follow a domestic-violence weapons order and complete anger management.

Additional information on the 2020 incident wasn't immediately available.

Online court records didn't list an attorney for Tracey on Friday. Burlington Seventh-day Adventist Church did not immediately return Patch's request for comment.

Anyone with reason to believe that Tracey may have had sexual contact with other children can call the prosecutor's office at 609-265-5035 and ask to speak with a detective in the Special Victims Unit. Information can also be emailed to tips@co.burlington.nj.us.