Craig Stephen White — known to University students as the "Brother Stephen" who often preached to students from sidewalks near campus — was arrested during the summer and is awaiting trial for allegedly offering to perform oral sex on a 14-year-old boy in West Chester, Pa., last June, authorities said.
White, of Philadelphia, will go to trial Nov. 17 unless he pleads guilty to the several charges levied against him, including criminal solicitation of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, West Chester police detective Stan Billie said.
Police said the minor told them he was walking on a street in West Chester when the driver of a van stopped and asked whether the minor knew where any strip clubs or adult book or video stores were. The van departed, but returned a few minutes later, when the driver allegedly offered to pay the boy to receive oral sex from him, authorities said.
The boy refused and walked to his aunt's house a block away, repeating the van's tag number to himself, according to a signed statement authorities will use in court.
After the boy reported the incident to police, police said they found the vehicle was registered to Gospel Outreach Center, a youth ministry White runs in Philadelphia.
The minor positively identified White in a photo lineup, police said.
Billie said police believe the alleged solicitation may not be an isolated incident.
"We think there's more victims out there. They just haven't come forward," Billie said.
White "goes against everything he preaches," he added.
On the advice of his attorney, White declined to comment directly on the case. He said, however, that he has been receiving support from Christians praying for him nationwide.
"Satan has his people and God has his people, and I'm very happy I'm on God's side with God's people," he said.
White became known at the University for vocally condemning student behavior and dress. His sidewalk preaching led to confrontations and arrests at the University and other colleges.
White has been banned from entering University grounds.
But Billie said White had no known criminal record.
White preaches mainly at Pennsylvania and New Jersey schools and said he intends to return to campuses soon.
"God willing, I'll be lecturing at Princeton again within this school year," he said.
He said he also plans to continue his work with urban youth.
"We're keeping things as normal as they've been before this accusation as possible," he said of his ministry, which reaches out to children, teens and college students.
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