Rev. C. Stephen White -- better known on Penn's campus as "Brother Stephen" -- will face trial on charges of soliciting sex from a 14-year-old boy, according to the West Chester District Attorney's office.
At a preliminary hearing held Aug. 12, White pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal solicitation, criminal attempt to lure a child into a motor vehicle and corruption of minors. All charges will be held for court, according to West Chester Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Callahan, who will prosecute the case.
According to Callahan, the date for White's trial has not yet been determined.
The juvenile's affidavit states that on June 26, White approached the boy in a green Ford van, claimed he was lost and asked if there were any strip clubs or adult book and video stores nearby. The boy testified that he refused the offer to get into White's car and White drove off.
White allegedly returned five minutes later and asked the boy if he "wanted to make some money" by allowing White to perform oral sex on him.
According to the affidavit, the boy memorized the license plate number of the vehicle and called his mother, who alerted the police.
The license plate showed that the vehicle was registered to the Philadelphia Gospel Outreach Center, White's North Philadelphia ministry for children.
The affidavit also states that the boy positively identified White as the driver of the vehicle that approached him.
White was arrested in West Chester on July 2.
According to West Chester police officials, he has no prior criminal record.
The juvenile was the only witness called in the preliminary hearing, according to Callahan. White did not testify. He was accompanied in court by his wife and a small group of supporters and relatives. He has been released on $20,000 bail.
White is well-known in the Philadelphia area, where he has lived since 1991. He founded a campus group, Soldiers for Christ, at Temple University, and worked at a youth ministry in Clayton, N.J. He was often seen with his wife and three sons preaching on College Green. At times, he would carry a Bible in one hand, and a Quran in the other, preaching against such things ranging from Islam to homosexuality.
White has frequented other college campuses across the country.
White's attorney, Robert Donatoni, did not return repeated calls for comment.
