ALLEGAN COUNTY—
A man who once worked as a church volunteer and at a band camp for high school students was sentenced to prison time today for having sex with teenage girls.Shawn Birman, 24, will spend 8 to 25 years in prison. He plead guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct back in April.
Birman originally faced four felony counts, but three charges were dismissed as part of his plea deal.
The investigation dates to 2008 when Birman was a volunteer at a band camp that several Wayland band students attended. He said Birman got to know the youngsters and stayed in contact with them after the camp concluded via cell phone or computer through social networking sites. The three victims were sexually assaulted while students at Wayland High School.
Birman's actions came to light last September, when three teen girls came forward with the Allegations.
Birman also had access to a Voice of Hope church office where he said he was the "director of music ministries" as well as at the Brightside Church that uses a building in downtown Wayland where he said he was a "youth counselor for the Life Line program."
Birman allegedly told the victims that the program was for high school students to join and talk about things on their mind and that counselors such as himself could talk with them to teach them to stay positive as well as to talk about God.
The sexual assaults occurred at a private residence, an apartment and both church locations, according to Wayland Police.
