Baptist minister sentenced to 60-120 years for child sex abuse

NASHUA (NH)
The Telegraph

By ANDREW WOLFE, Telegraph Staff
wolfea@telegraph-nh.com


A Baptist minister was sentenced Wednesday to 60 to 120 years in prison for sexually abusing two younger, female relatives, prosecutors said. Stephen Mattson, 47, formerly of 21 Linlew Drive, pleaded guilty to 46 felony sexual assault charges from Hillsborough and Rockingham counties, Deputy Rockingham County Attorney Thomas Reid said Thursday.

Mattson never headed any church, but he worked as a minister running special programs, sometimes including youth programs, Reid said. He formerly served at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Litchfield and Victory Baptist in Londonderry, Reid said. He also served at various Baptist churches Maine, Texas and Illinois.

Mattson kept moving his family every time suspicious of his sexual abuse surfaced, Reid said. Church officials were made aware of the abuse and hushed it up at least three times, he said.

“Over the years there were numerous occasions where the defendant was caught and confronted by others for his acts. He would engage in a routine of crying, apologizing, engaging in prayer … and of course promising never to do it again. And of course, each time, he did it again,” Reid said.