Mount Holly Man Receives 25-Year Prison Term
Shawn R. Tracey, a 45-year-old resident of Mount Holly, was sentenced to 25 years in state prison on Friday after pleading guilty to first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a girl under the age of 13.
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office secured the agreed-upon 25-year term through a plea deal, requiring Tracey to serve the entire sentence before becoming eligible for parole, according to officials. The Courier-Post noted that Superior Court Judge Aimee Belgard mandated mandatory lifetime parole supervision and inclusion on the New Jersey sex offender registry once Tracey is eventually released.
Tracey Served as Deacon During Alleged Abuse
At the time investigators say the abuse was occurring, Tracey served as a deacon at the Burlington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Burlington City, an affiliation first identified by nj.com in June 2025. State authorities were notified of the potential abuse during the summer of 2025, triggering a formal investigation.
Reports have varied on the precise duration of the offenses. The initial nj.com coverage in June 2025 described the abuse as occurring over a period of nearly two years, while subsequent reporting by the outlet stated that detectives alleged Tracey assaulted the victim multiple times across a two-year span. NBC Philadelphia reported that the assaults took place over more than two years at multiple locations throughout Burlington County.
Tracey Pleaded Guilty to One Aggravated Sexual Assault Charge
Before reaching the plea agreement, Tracey faced more charges. NBC Philadelphia reported that the original charges brought against him consisted of 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault, 13 counts of debauching the morals of a child, two counts of sexual assault, along with one count of distributing obscene material to a minor. Those numerous counts were ultimately resolved when Tracey pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault.
Additional details regarding the case were withheld by authorities to protect the identity of the victim, according to the Courier-Post. Anyone seeking support regarding sexual assault can reach out to the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673 or contact the National Sexual Violence Resources Center.
