Pastor under investigation for alleged sex assault
The St. Clair County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing allegations that local Pastor Mitch Olson sexually assaulted a former member of his church.
The St. Clair County Sheriff Department submitted the case against the pastor of Grace Ministry Center to the prosecutor Wednesday morning seeking a criminal sexual conduct charge.
The investigation comes nearly 10 months after the alleged abuse occurred. The 20-year-old female victim from Marysville filed a police report in June. She was 19 years old at the time of the alleged criminal sexual conduct. The Times Herald does not publish names of sexual assault victims.
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Olson told the Times Herald Tuesday night that he did not wish to comment for this story. Wednesday morning, Olson said he would provide a statement, but has not done so.
St. Clair County Prosecutor Mike Wendling said his office is currently investigating the case to determine if a crime has been committed. Wendling said his office had been communicating with the sheriff department during its investigation as well.
“Now the investigation process begins in our office,” he said. “We will contact the victim and discuss the matter with the victim. We may schedule an interview with her to discuss the case. We will review the statute to see if the facts alleged are in violation of Michigan law and then we will move forward with the review."
Wendling said he did not know how long the investigation will take. Due to the age of the case and age of the victim, he said the criminal sexual conduct unit will conduct a very thorough review prior to deciding if it is a chargeable case.
I was trying to get closer to God.
The Marysville woman, who then lived alone in a Port Huron apartment, said she was not happy with the way she was living her life and wanted to do something to get closer to God. She began seeking counseling from Olson, she said. She had known him since she was in middle school because her parents were dedicated members at Grace Ministry Center, 4731 Lapeer Road, Smiths Creek.
Olson suggested she be anointed to cleanse her of her sins. He said he didn’t have anointing oil at the church during a meeting in July 2016, but told her they would make time for the procedure. The practice of anointing is a religious ceremony that typically involves crowning subjects with oil.
“Later on that night, around like 8 or 9, he texted me and asked what my address was,” the alleged victim told the Times Herald. “I gave him the address and didn’t think anything of it since I trusted him … He got there and said, ‘I have the anointing oil if you want to be anointed,’ so I said ‘OK.'”
According to the police report, “Olson then said a prayer and placed oil on her head, Olson then did the same on (her) shoulders. Olson then asked if he could put the oil on her breasts (she) said yes and Olson put his hand down the front of (her) shirt making skin to skin contact with (her) breasts. Olson then put oil on (her) stomach/mid-section. Olson then asked he could put oil on (her) buttock, (she) responded yes. Olson then put his hand down the back of (her) pants and made skin to skin contact with (her) buttock cheeks. Olson then asked if he could put oil on (her) pubic area (front of pants), (she) responded yes. Olson then put his hand down the front of (her) pants and made skin to skin contact with (her) pubic region. Olson then touched (her) knees and ended with her feet.”
The Times Herald obtained a copy of the police report after filing a Freedom of Information Act request with the sheriff department on July 28.
The Marysville woman said at the time she believed the procedure was necessary to allow God to forgive her previous sins.
“When I explained it to my mom, she said it wasn’t right,” she told the Times Herald. “I believed it was what really had to be done, but he grabbed, groped my boobs.”
At first, she was hesitant to report the alleged incident to police, stating she didn’t think people would believe her as Olson is a well-respected member of the community.
The Marysville woman said eventually she decided the community needed to know what happened to prevent the same thing from happening to other women.
“It’s been really traumatic and devastating to lose trust from one person you think you can trust and just have that ripped from you,” she said. “It’s the worst feeling ever and I don’t want anyone to experience that.”
Spreading awareness
When asked if she had plans to pursue a civil lawsuit if the case doesn't move forward criminally, the Marysville woman said probably not.
“That wasn’t the purpose of this,” she said. “He wouldn’t be on a sex offender registry and that would be like paying me off. I just want to raise awareness. I don’t want the pain he inflicted on me … I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”
Since the incident, the Marysville woman has taken to social media to share her story. She has posted multiple Facebook videos detailing what took place, warning other women and parents to keep their children away from the church.
Grace Ministry Center board member Gordon Farnsworth said he thinks people should be cautious about what they read in the media and what they hear on social media. He said it isn’t always truthful.
“Most of what I saw and heard was not factual,” Farnsworth told the Times Herald. “I found it offensive she attacked the entire board since she felt the situation wasn’t handled as she wanted it to be handled … But there was a lot of discrepancy as far as the story goes and it came down to if we felt there was intent when he went over to her apartment and (the board) did not feel there was an intent of a lustful nature. Knowing (Olson) for several years and seeing what he has done for the community … He has gone out of his way to help people and lead people to Christ. I truly feel in my heart he was trying to help this young lady. I do feel there was poor judgment that he went over (to her apartment) without anyone else there, but I feel the situation was taken out of context … Many lives have been hurt through this whole thing.”
According to the police report, investigating detective Eric Stevens, from the St. Clair County Sheriff Department, asked Farnsworth, “did the anointing involve Mitch anointing (her) breasts, butt cheeks, and pubic/pelvic region,” and Farnsworth said, “yes with the qualifier that the intent and extent of the touching is the point of disagreement between (Olson) and (her).”
In the police report, former assistant pastor Justin Mcburney stated that Olson told him that “the oil bottle had broken, getting oil all over. Olson said it was possible his hand had slipped and his hand might have gone in her pants. Olson also said he should have not gone over to (her) house.”
Mcburney also stated in the police report that later Olson told him that he did not put his hand down her pants. Mcburney has since resigned from his position at the church.
Farnsworth also stated that the church board recommended that Olson pursue counseling following the incident.
“This would give Mitch a chance to talk with someone and if he did have sexual intent he might have an opportunity to work through that also,” said Farnsworth, according to the police report.
The police report also transcribes a meeting held between the alleged victim, her then-stepfather, the church board and Mitch Olson. The meeting was recorded on March 26 by the alleged victim’s stepfather. The Marysville woman read a letter to the pastor and then the board discussed the incident. The woman and her stepfather felt the board should take action against Olson to prevent him from assaulting other women, according to the report.
In the recording, Olson states that he “shouldn’t have gone over there … in the first place.”
Olson apologized to the victim of the reported sexual assault for making her uncomfortable, but stated she was lying, according to the transcript. In a statement to Stevens, Olson confirmed that he and the Marysville woman had a counselor-counselee relationship.
The board ultimately decided that the woman should give Olson forgiveness and pursue her relationship with God.
The woman’s stepfather said that was like “a slap on the wrist.”
“Do you want your daughters coming to this church where this could possibly happen … I feel like it (has) been covered up,” the stepfather said.
Further investigations
The police report also contains further investigations of past allegations involving Mitch Olson.
A second alleged victim, who was in 10th grade at the time, told Detective Stevens about an incident involving Olson.
“When (woman 2) was approximately in the 10th grade (approximately four years ago) she was a member of Grace (Ministry) Church. (She) was helping with the Judgement House (spook house for Halloween sponsored by Grace Ministry Church). At the end of the night, she observed Mitch Olson enter the girl’s changing room and then exit. (Woman 2) then entered the same room and went to change out of her costume when she observed a cell phone propped up on a box. (She) picked this phone up and it was in camera/video mode. Without thinking about it, she took the phone to Mitch Olson and asked him if it was his. (She) recalled Olson having an awkward reaction and did confirm it was his phone… (she) believes Olson was trying to record her while she was changing her clothes.”
The police report also references instances where pornographic images were found on Mitch Olson’s computer at Grace Ministry Center as well as at his former church, Hillside Wesleyan Church in Clyde Township.
Tim Riker, a former board member of Hillside Wesleyan Church, stated that “Olson was then confronted about the pornography on Olson’s work computer. Olson broke down and confessed he had had a problem (with) pornography and he had sought some type of help,” according to the police report.
Also in the police report, another woman who was a church member at Hillside Wesleyan Church said when she was 15 years old in 2001, she attended a “pureness” overnight for teen girls to talk about staying a virgin until marriage.
“(She) recalled Mitch Olson doing the message and talking about him and his wife having sex together and breaking a couch,” according to the police report. “(She) felt first of all Olson should not have been speaking at this type of event and his example was way out of line.”
Pastor Mitch Olson told the Times Herald Tuesday night that he did not wish to comment for this story. Wednesday morning Olson said he would provide a statement, but has not done so.
Grace Ministry Center board members Caremy Snellenberger, Joseph Forth and Beverly Wilson declined to comment. Board members Dave Frazier, Lewis Hurley and Joseph Forth did not return calls seeking comment. We could not reach board members Tom Holcomb and Hannah Herr or former Assistant Pastor Justin Mcburney.
Some of the board members listed above have resigned following the allegations, according to the police report. A Hillside Wesleyan Church spokesman declined to comment as well. St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon stated he could not discuss the case while it was under investigation.
If you have a story of sexual assault or of an inappropriate occurrence that involves Mitch Olson, please contact Nicole Hayden, Times Herald investigative reporter, at nhayden@gannett.com or (810) 989-6279.
Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or nhayden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @nicoleandpig.