Saturday, December 18, 2004

Girl abused 9 years ago in Voorhees

By RENEE WINKLER
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN

A former Voorhees resident who was a minister with The Way International was sentenced Friday to six years in state prison for sexually assaulting a young girl nine years ago.

Mark Naberschnig, 46, of Duluth, Ga., will serve the term at the state's Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, a facility for sex offenders.

The Way International is a nondenominational fellowship ministry that relies on biblical research, according to its Web site.

The victim reported the sexual assaults, which lasted from July through December of 1995, when she realized Naberschnig was acting toward other children in the same way he had behaved and spoken to her during the period he was assaulting her, said Assistant Camden County Prosecutor Howard Gilfert. The assaults occurred in Naberschnig's former home in Voorhees, according to Gilfert.

Represented by defense attorney David Sufrin, Naberschnig had asked Superior Court Judge Irvin Snyder to suspend the portion of his sentence that includes parole supervision for life. Compliance with Megan's Law mandates, he said, would make it difficult for him to return to his ministerial career.

Snyder said he had no discretion about supervision and registration of sex offenders.

"Every crime has a ripple effect that is felt for generations. To keep a secret for years is like a cancer that eats at you and weakens you. I think someone like you should be warehoused forever. You can't reverse the effects you had on this child," Snyder said.

Source: http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m121804s.htm (link now defunt) 

Forum discussion of the article: TWI-minister gets 6 years for sexual assaults

Lisa Peterson's response: I am the one who filed against "Ex Minister get 6 years guy"