N. Philly pastor who lives in Whitpain convicted of sexually assaulting 3 minors

Mark Hatcher, 60, of the 800 block of Village Circle Drive in the Blue Bell section of Whitpain Township, has been convicted of having indecent or sexual contact with a boy and two girls, ages 6 to 15, between 2000 and 2008, The Reporter said.

Hatcher, who is a pastor of Holy Ghost Headquarters in North Philadelphia, received 10 charges, including rape, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault and indecent assault of a child.

He may spend several years in prison.

According to The Reporter, Hatcher “showed no emotion as the jury of seven women and five men announced the verdict after 2½ hours of deliberations.”

“These three victims were kids when this happened. They all trusted the defendant. He was a pastor. One of the victims said that she looked to him as a father figure and he preyed on that and used that against them to commit horrible crimes that shaped their lives for years later,” Assistant District Attorney Caroline Rose Goldstein said.

Hatcher reportedly knew the victims’ families, some of whom attended his church.

The investigation began in January 2022 when one of the victims reported the relationship to Whitpain police, according to the criminal complaint filed by Whitpain Detective Bradly Potter.

According to The Reporter, the male victim testified that Hatcher indecently touched him and “forced him to touch Hatcher’s penis while Hatcher masturbated” when he was six years old. The victim said a similar incident took place the following year, during which Hatcher “kissed him on the mouth and touched his buttocks as the boy was playing with a Noah’s Ark toy while visiting Hatcher’s Whitpain home.”

A woman testified that Hatcher “exposed his body to her, then approached her from behind and fondled her breasts” when she was 15 years old, The Reporter said.

A second woman said Hatcher “forcibly raped her” in a vacant Philadelphia residence when she was 13 years old.

Hatcher’s lawyer suggested the victims allegations were falsified.

“It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. Is there any objective evidence? There is too much reasonable doubt to convict him,” Hatcher’s lawyer said during the trial. “They are horrifying allegations against Pastor Hatcher.”

Hatcher did not testify during the trial.

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Photo: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office