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Youth group band member charged with sex assault

Youth group band member charged with sex assault
Posted at 4:24 PM, Apr 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-19 22:56:26-04

A member of a Sheboygan church's youth group band is charged with sexually assaulting underage girls he met at church activities, according to a criminal complaint obtained by TODAY’S TMJ4.

During an interview with Sheboygan Police April 14 at City Church, a youth pastor told officials he received a call from a concerned parent that a youth pastor had been molesting children who were members of the church. However, an internal church investigation revealed that it was a member of the church’s musical youth group, Clayton Michener, who had contact with the children; not a pastor.

Although court documents show Michener described himself as a "worship leader," church officials say he was just a member of the youth band. 

Sheboygan Police immediately interviewed the 19-year-old suspect, Michener. During that interview, Michener admitted to officers that he had sexual relations with two underage girls, after breaking up with his longtime girlfriend.

One of the victims said she met Michener in a workshop team through the church and said that Michener drove her to a parking lot near a Sheboygan movie theater, where one of the assaults occurred.

In speaking to a second victim, April 15, another Sheboygan Police officer was told that Michener had inappropriate contact with this additional victim, on multiple occasions, while on church grounds.

Michener has now been charged with first degree child sexual assault - sexual contact with a child under age 13, and sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age, according to the complaint.

He now faces up to 100 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.

According to court documents,  Michener is scheduled to appear in Sheboygan County Circuit Court April 25 at 10 a.m. for a status conference, and a preliminary hearing on April 27 at 2:15 p.m.

Tuesday evening, church officials released the following statement.

"Tuesday evening, church officials released a statement.

"It has come to light that a young man who played guitar with our youth worship band had inappropriate contact with 2 minors. This 19-year old, Clayton Michener, was never employed at the church, nor in a youth leadership position, whatsoever. He was only authorized to play an instrument with the band and is a member of another church in the area. Once we were made aware of the situation, we immediately reported it to the police and parents to protect our students."