“They Praised a Predator”: Shaun Sheffer Sentenced in PA AG Investigation

Courtroom in the Butler County Courthouse of Common Pleas, 2025, where the Trial for Shaun Sheffer took place

Article written and published by: Miss Usato on June 5, 2025

Please be aware that the following article discusses abuse, as it may be triggering.

On June 3, 2025, Shaun Sheffer, 47, an active Jehovah’s Witness from Harmony, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 14 to 34 years in Prison for repeated sexual abuse of K.S. between 1995 and 2000. K.S. who testified during the trial, stated that Sheffer raped her 30 to 50 times, beginning when she was seven years old. This case was brought about from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Grand Jury Investigation into Jehovah’s Witnesses. The following article recounts the emotional and tense day of Shaun’s sentencing, written with Brandon Sheffers’ assistance. He is the one who initially spoke up for K.S. about the abuse. He is also the brother of Shaun Sheffer, the perpetrator, who is an active Jehovah’s Witness.

A divided Family – “They refused to sit near us, “apostates”

Flashback:

On January 14th, 2025, the day of Shaun Sheffer’s verdict, the courtroom was packed. This is from the previous article:

A divided Family’s fight for justice, the day-by-day trial of Shaun Sheffer, 01/25

“Don’t be scared, no matter what happens.” Brandon Sheffer comfortingly whispered next to K.S., along with her wife, Jacque, who was there with her every step of the way. They sat there in the Courtroom after a strenuous 5-day trial.

When the verdict was read regarding her perpetrator, Shaun Sheffer, the room erupted. “Shaun Sheffer is guilty-” reading them out on all seven charges.

Cries and gasps filled the courtroom, punctuated by signs of anger and murmurs that rippled through the room. On one side, the survivor, K.S., and her family sat stunned before being hurriedly escorted out by police officers. Reporter and journalist Mark O’Donnell, Ms. Usato, and other former Jehovah’s Witnesses who attended the 5-day trial released a deep breath of relief upon hearing the verdict. Emotions stirred throughout the room. To avoid confrontation, they were all ushered through a separate exit by law enforcement. Jehovah’s Witnesses in attendance, many of whom had testified in Shaun’s defense, were devastated. Their whispered outrage grew louder as they confronted law enforcement. “Thank you for doing your job wrong!” one of them stated. “Are you happy with yourselves?” Another declared, “They got the wrong guy,” among other remarks. – End of previous article.

On June 3, 2025, Shaun Sheffer, 47, an active Jehovah’s Witness from Harmony, Pennsylvania, who attended the Zelienople congregation, was finally sentenced after it had been pushed back 3 times this year. There were whispers that he would attempt a last-ditch effort, bringing his case to the Supreme Court as a last resort, drawing out his sentencing date even further, but that quickly dissipated when the day arrived. There was no further delay in his sentencing date.

Brandon: “When we arrived at the courthouse on June 3rd, a few minutes early, we waited for K and her wife to show up. A few family members who had also been labeled as an ‘Apostate’ throughout the years showed up because they didn’t want K.S. to be alone for this day; it was very touching. But immediately, I tensed upon noticing very familiar faces showing up. Not just Jehovah’s Witnesses that I knew growing up, but also our family members who are witnesses. They showed up, but on Shaun’s side.”

As the 5-day trial in January was, Jehovah’s Witnesses from Shaun’s congregation in Zelienople attended his sentencing. Brandon said there were over 25 witnesses present.

Brandon: “The courtroom was packed with people on Shaun’s side. More than could fit in the seats—eight to ten of them ended up standing. The bailiff kept pointing out that there were open seats on the other side, where we were, but they refused to sit near us, the “apostates,” so they just stood the whole time. Honestly, it was somewhat amusing.”

Once the courtroom had calmed down and the judge was seated, Alicia Warner, the prosecutor in this case and a pillar of support for the PA AG investigation, read K.S.’s and Brandon’s closing statements. They are shown below. The statements are deeply personal, with the consent of K.S. and Brandon to share, but they may be triggering to some. Many, including I, have dealt with this sort of abuse and the aftermath of the neglect, silence, and pain that takes many years to be at peace with. Sometimes it feels as though you will never find true peace with yourself. Please know that you are not alone, and there are many resources available that can help you heal.

K.S. and Brandon Sheffers’ closing statements read to the Judge on June 3, 2025

Defense statements

After the prosecution’s statements, the Defense came full swing ahead, and no one was ready for it.

Brandon: “Shaun’s new lawyer was loud and very rude. He kept turning around to look at me, like he wanted to size me up. Then he started calling witnesses—first was one of our family members, an active Jehovah’s Witness. She gave this very dramatic, tearful speech about how Shaun is like a son to her. Then she went on about Shaun’s childhood, most of which was completely untrue. During her statement, Shaun’s lawyer kept barking at her—”SPEAK UP!” It was very unprofessional. He did the same thing to Shaun’s wife and the girls when they testified.”

Statements were made by Shaun’s wife and his teenage daughters

On the day of Shaun’s sentencing, not only did his wife give a statement, but his two teenage daughters, E and A, did as well. To make matters worse, June 3rd, this day of sentencing, was on one of the girls’ birthdays. Unfortunately, these matters had occurred, you cannot erase abuse. You cannot erase the years of pain K went through. Though it is a tender subject, there is no hate towards Shaun’s girls. Had it not been for the abuse Shaun caused, this family wouldn’t have to be going through this.

Brandon: “Shaun’s wife gave a very rehearsed, over-the-top statement. It was filled with Jehovah’s Witness lingo, and she did a lot of praising of Shaun. Then she did this bizarre illustration—like, “If a puzzle is missing a few pieces, you wouldn’t keep it, you’d get a new one.” It was clearly meant to counter what Prosecutor Alicia Werner said at trial in January, about how you can still recognize a puzzle’s image even if a few pieces are missing, but Alicia’s point made sense. Megan’s didn’t.”

Brandon said that Megan then retold the story of Shaun’s arrest with full theatrics—again, as if that had anything to do with sentencing. We can all understand that the morning of Shaun’s arrest was traumatic, but it didn’t make her a victim. Brandon said it was all tough to listen to.

Brandon: “A, who just turned 18, spoke about how great her dad is and mentioned skipping a yearly tradition of buying records because she’s waiting to do it with him. Then E spoke, and things got a little uncomfortable. She talked about how her friends adored Shaun and called him “Shaunny Boy,” which felt wildly inappropriate given his conviction.”

Shaun ended up speaking in the end, but Brandon said it was just a statement of constant denial that he had done nothing wrong.

“He read the charges against Shaun, then said he would be in prison for 14-34 years.”

When the statements were completed, Prosecutor Alicia Werner asked the judge for a sentence of 18 to 36 years.

Shaun’s lawyer then gave a speech about how Shaun doesn’t care about himself, only his family.

Brandon: “I feel if that were true, he’d have taken a plea and not dragged them through a trial, and drained them financially.”

Shaun’s lawyer said, “In all my years doing this, I’ve never seen a defendant receive so much support from friends and family. That speaks to his character,” talking about all of the Jehovah’s Witnesses present. Then he asked the judge to give Shaun time served and let him walk out.

At the end of the sentencing, Brandon stated that the judge was fairly emotionless and read out every sentence and charge, concluding that Shaun Sheffer is sentenced to 14 to 34 years.

Brandon: “I am glad that is all over with, we can finally move on. I hope this is the end of the drama. It was upsetting sitting there across from my family, who knows I am an honest and credible person. None of them said a word to us. They were just acting like they were there to stand up for Shaun and prevent an incredible injustice. Like it’s just Satan persecuting Jehovah’s People and using apostates for it.”

There’s zero chance we would support this if we didn’t believe it to be true, and I know it is true. I guess it was just easier to point to us as apostates, for leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and think, “They must be evil, no one leaves the truth otherwise.” But they were praising a predator. They will never see it that way.”

From Miss Usato:

This article is not meant to cast hate toward Jehovah’s Witnesses or to vilify those who are devout to their faith. We understand and empathize with the shock that Megan Sheffer feels about her husband’s sentencing, recognizing the personal grief and anguish that comes with such a situation. We also realize that his girls may disagree or feel immense confusion about what has happened. The intention here is to shed light on the harmful practices within the organization that have allowed child sexual abuse to be covered up and its victims silenced. This piece aims to address the systemic issues of repression and the failure to protect the vulnerable, which have caused immeasurable harm. The focus is also on urging change within the organization to ensure accountability, transparency, and the safety of all its members, especially those who, like K.S., have suffered in silence.

Brandon’s unwavering love for his sister, K.S., and his determination to seek justice despite the barriers of religious loyalty and family pressures is a testament to his extraordinary courage and compassion. He and his wife supported her, believed in her, and fought fiercely for her dignity when others chose to look the other way. Brandon’s bravery reminds us of the power of standing up against injustice, even when challenging deeply religiously ingrained systems. Mark O’Donnell and AvoidJW extend our sincere gratitude to Deputy Attorney General Alicia Werner, Special Agent Adametz, and the team behind the PA AG investigation for their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in giving these abuse victims a voice. Ultimately, we are reminded that everyone needs a Brandon Sheffer in their life—someone who stands up for what’s right.

Links regarding this case:

AvoidJW: A divided family’s fight for justice with the PA AG Investigation into Jehovah’s Witnesses

PA AG site: CASE UPDATE: Former Butler County Jehovah’s Witnesses Member Sentenced up to 34 Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Young Child

JWChildAbuse: Verdict: Butler County Jehovah’s Witness sentences with seven charges of CSA

Mady Rubin Post Gazette: Butler County man sentenced in latest Jehovah’s Witness sex abuse case

MSN: Shaun Sheffer was convicted of CSA on seven counts