BUTLER TWP — A former Butler pastor waived his preliminary hearing Thursday on the third set of sexual assault charges filed against him.

Herman C. Rushing Jr., 68, was accused by state police of inappropriately touching an 11-year-old girl and a 9-year-old girl, according to the charges filed March 6. Police said the 11-year-old was assaulted repeatedly for more than a year.

He was charged with felonies indecent assault, corruption of minors, child endangerment and misdemeanors indecent assault and child endangerment.

Rushing appeared with attorney Stephen Colafella on Thursday before District Judge Kevin O’Donnell and waived the hearing.

Across three cases, Rushing was accused by state police of assaulting four minors and an adult congregation member.

In December, Rushing was accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl. He was charged with felonies and misdemeanors of indecent assault, corruption of minors and child endangerment for the alleged incidents and waived his right to a preliminary hearing on those charges Dec. 21. He also met a $50,000 bail and was released from Butler County Prison on that date.

Police charged Rushing the following day with misdemeanor indecent assault in connection with an alleged inappropriate incident involving an adult female member of his congregation. The charge proceeded to the Court of Common Pleas following a preliminary hearing before District Judge William Fullerton on March 18.