November 21, 2016
Source/Bucks County DIstrict Attorney's Office
Michael Walusimbi, 22, of Bensalem, Bucks County, turned himself in Monday to Middletown detectives, police said.
A youth-group leader at a Bucks County church is facing sexual assault charges.
Michael Walusimbi, 22, of Bensalem was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting two teen girls at his church, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the Middletown Township Police Department announced Monday.
There may be additional victims, authorities said.
Walusimbi turned himself in Monday to Middletown detectives and was charged with institutional sexual assault, attempted institutional sexual assault, indecent assault, attempted indecent assault, felony corruption of minors and misdemeanor corruption of minors.
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Daniel Baranoski, who set bail at $50,000, 10 percent cash.
The charges allege that Walusimbi sexually assaulted or attempted to sexually assault 13- and 15-year-old girls on separate occasions inside Oxford Valley Chapel, 198 Bristol Oxford Valley Road in Middletown Township.
The 13-year-old told police in September that Walusimbi had held her arms behind her back, bent her over a table, pulled down her pants and rubbed his erect penis against her buttocks, the affidavit of probable cause alleges.
In October, a 15-year-old girl told police that Walusimbi had assaulted her sometime during the latter part of summer. She alleged that Walusimbi had held her arms behind her back, pushed her face-first onto a table, and whispered in her ear that someday she would call him a pedophile. The girl said she then managed to kick her leg backward and break free, police said.
Walusimbi allegedly acknowledged the assaults in a recent interview with police, according to a probable cause affidavit. He is represented by defense attorney Gail Marr.
Authorities are encouraging any other victims to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Middletown Police Sgt. Matthew Kroiss, Middletown Det. Andrew Amoroso, or Deputy District Attorney Antonetta Stancu, whose information appears above.
