A youth pastor from Grand Blanc is facing up to life in prison after indecently exposing himself to an 11-year-old girl at a Brandon Township campground.
Curtis Burkhardt, 43, was arraigned on a felony charge of indecent exposure by a sexually delinquent person on Nov. 22 in front of 52-2 District Court Magistrate Elizabeth Chiappelli.
According to police reports, on Aug. 12, Burkhardt, a youth pastor at the First Baptist Church of Grand Blanc, took two 11-year-old girls to the Clearwater Campground, 1140 S. Ortonville Road. He did not have prior approval from their parents. Burkhardt also took along his own three children, ages 10, 7 and 5.
While traveling from Grand Blanc to the campground, Burkhardt had a sexually toned conversation with one of the 11-year-old girls. During the conversation, he asked her if she had ever seen male genitals and asked her questions about her 16-year-old sister’s sexual activity. The victim told police Burkhardt had an erection during the conversation.
While at the campground, Burkhardt inisted the victim go with him to get pop and continued to ask questions of the victim regarding her having a boyfriend. While having lunch at the campground, he insisted she sit next to him and while he had his own 5-year-old daughter on his lap, exposed his penis to the victim.
When the victim arrived home, she reported the incident to her sister, who told their parents. During CARE House interviews, the victim reported the same events and also recalled a previous incident in which she was made to change into a bathing suit at the Burkhardt residence, in a room with no door and only a computer in it. She did not reveal any sexual contact.
Further investigation found that Burkhardt had exposed himself to the victim’s older sister a couple years ago when she was 13 or 14-years-old and babysitting at the Burkhardt residence. He also tried to get the sister to model her bathing suit for him.
Another victim, now in college, was located and said that in 2003-2004, when she was 16 and a babysitter for him and his wife, Burkhardt approached her with an erection on several occasions.
Burkhardt was previously convicted of indecent exposure out of the 67th District Court in Flint in 2001. The victim in that case said Burkhardt exposed himself to her and her 3-year-old daughter while they were at the McDonald’s in Grand Blanc. His conviction was taken under advisement and dismissed after completion of probation.
Burkhardt’s bond was set at $25,000 cash surety, no 10 percent. He was outfitted with a GPS tether after being released on bond and is to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18, including his own children.
A pre-exam conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Nov. 29, in front of 52-2 District Court Judge Joseph Fabrizio.