In agreement with Prosecutor’s Office, Harry L. Thomas will be sentenced to up to 20 years in state prison
Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced on Friday, Feb. 16, that a 74-year-old Medford Township pastor acknowledged in Superior Court that he sexually assaulted four juveniles and had inappropriate interaction with a fifth one over a multi-year period ending in 2015.
Harry L. Thomas, of Queens Lane, pled guilty to one count of aggravated sexual assault (first degree), three counts of sexual assault (second degree) and one count of endangering the welfare of a child (second degree) before the Hon. Jeanne T. Covert, P.J.Cr.
Under an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office, Thomas will be sentenced to up to 20 years in state prison for the crimes, with no parole eligibility. Covert scheduled sentencing for June 22.
Thomas was the pastor of Come Alive Church in Medford Township at the time of his arrest. The investigation revealed that the assaults occurred in Medford Township between 1999 and 2015.
Information about the victims is being withheld in an attempt to protect their identities.
The case was investigated by the Medford Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. Medford Township Police Detective William Knecht and BCPO Detective Jack Bowker were the lead investigators.
Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Eife, supervisor of the BCPO Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit, is prosecuting the case.
