A Red Bank man who worked as an organist for a Shrewsbury church faces up to five years in jail for his admission that he sexually assaulted a minor, according to a spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor.
Kenneth Clayton, 66, pleaded guilty to third-degree child endangerment May 31 in state Superior Court in Freehold. The plea came to light after an inquiry Monday by redbankgreen.
According to assistant prosecutor Christopher Gambiccioni, Clayton admitted that he touched a seven-year-old boy’s penis while the child was asleep in Red Bank last September 9.
At the time of his arrest on September 17, Clayton was working as the organist and choir director at the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury. He later took a leave of absence from his duties pending resolution of the charges, church officials said.
In a letter to parishoners at the time, Pastor C. David McKirachan wrote that, to the best of their knowledge, church officials did not believe the alleged activity occurred on church property or under the auspices of Claytons duties at the church.
Clayton is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Anthony Mellaci on September 19, Gramiccioni said. He faces three-to-five years.
Clayton’s lawyer, Randolph Wolf of Red Bank, could not be reached for comment Monday.
