Archive for Saturday, April 19, 2008
Ex-youth leader charged with sex crime
April 19, 2008
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A former Lawrence woman took the stand Friday in Douglas County District Court describing sexual abuse that took place nearly a decade ago at the hands of a former church youth leader.
“He was the youth director at my church — he was like a mentor to me,” the 24-year-old woman said.
The victim came forward to Lawrence police last year, nine years after she claims the relationship started.
On the stand Friday afternoon, she testified that while she was a member of the youth group at a Lawrence church, she was involved in a three-year sexual relationship with the youth director.
She was 15 years old when it started. He was 28.
She testified she kept a journal during the time frame but didn’t tell anyone about the relationship until much later.
“I think it was just understood. It was kind of an unspoken rule that if I told anyone it would be over,” she said.
The woman said the relationship ended when she turned 18. She said the defendant got married at that time and moved to California to attend seminary.
She said what prompted her to come forward was the fact that the man — who is now 37 — was about to become an ordained minister and looking to return to northeast Kansas to work.
“It was bothersome,” she said. “It bothered me he might work in a church where my little brother still goes.”
After listening to the woman’s testimony, Douglas County District Judge Robert Fairchild ordered the man to stand trial on a charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
He’s free on $20,000 bond and scheduled to appear back in court July 14 for a motions hearing in the case.
The Journal-World typically does not identify suspects in sex crimes unless there is a conviction.
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19 April 2008 at 6:43 a.m.
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BigPrune (Anonymous) says…
What, no name of the church?
19 April 2008 at 11:16 a.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
She kept a diary. Hmm? If she told anyone it would be over. So on the surface it sounds like she didn't want it to be over. And now has a diary. Another book for Sarah Paretsky about Lawrence.
19 April 2008 at 11:29 a.m.
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yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…
Looks like criminal sexual abuse is not restricted to the catholic church.
Yay, religion. Where power differentials are exploited by the strong on the weak-willed and weak-bodied.
19 April 2008 at 12:39 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Why is it that these things surface only after many years have passed?
Something about this one isn't passing the smell test.
19 April 2008 at 2:36 p.m.
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Buggie7 (Anonymous) says…
Sounds like she was getting hers so when he decided to move on and get married to someonce else she was saying to herself “OH hell no” and decided to get revenge. There are things in teens diaries that are purely fantasy and how they want to percieve and see things. She liked what she had and wasnt about to let him move on.
19 April 2008 at 3:25 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Buggie7:
You took the words right out of my keyboard!
19 April 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
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yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…
She was a minor, and the law and most people recognize that minors don't make the best decisions about things like sex, drugs, etc. It is irrelevant if she “wanted it” or not. This man broke the law by having sex with a minor, and abused his position of authority over children.
This man is a repugnant criminal.
19 April 2008 at 4:30 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
YWN:
Yeah but why wait so long to bring the matter to someone's attention?
I've always wondered about that sort of thing, really; why so many of these situations only surface years after the event transpired.
19 April 2008 at 5:03 p.m.
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Buggie7 (Anonymous) says…
Marion is not nervous about anything. This woman was a teen and that was wrong I agree with you there. However, she waited until recently when this guy wanted to move on with his life. The whole story is fishy and as I said again I have had diarys/journals and so have my friends and most of what is in them are fantasy because they are so young. She waited until he was getting married to another to raise the point of what he “did to her” He may have done wrong and it should be investigated but shes 24 now for petes sake and she has known for a while that it was wrong to carry on a “relationship” with this guy. only now the tables have turned and he wants someone else.
Sounds like there were 2 unspoken deals here. 1.) she talks and it will all be over and no relationship for her and 2.) He cant be with anyone else or she will spill the beans.
Because of the time frame im more apt to believe this relationship was after she was 18 and she is a jealous one who will stop at nothing to keep him from being with another so she is making up stories as revenge trying to use the journals of a teenage fantasy.
19 April 2008 at 5:10 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
IGW: You are a complete jerk.
And stop PMing me.
PM me again and I report it to the “Staff”.
19 April 2008 at 5:12 p.m.
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Buggie7 (Anonymous) says…
uh oh ljworld stalker get em Marion LOL
19 April 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Yeah, Leuchter is quite the guy, isn't he?
Crazier than an outhouse rat.
Stop guessing about things, you have no idea what you are talking about.
19 April 2008 at 8:29 p.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
15 but how close to 16 and 18 how close to 19. Women got married at 16 in 1900 and some lied about their age, cause they weren't quite 16. One has to wonder if the guy came back to Kansas and girl got in touch with him, or he with her, or whe waited until he returned to Kansas to make the announcement so he could be tried in Kansas.
Guess he won't be in the ministry. Wonder what Martin Luther thought when the reformation was taking place about all that could happen years later in his flock.
19 April 2008 at 11:28 p.m.
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srj (Anonymous) says…
Innocent until proven guilty went out the window I guess. You know the DA has to be shaking there head, a minister having “relations” with a 15 year old girl nine years ago. How do you win a case like this?
20 April 2008 at 6:49 a.m.
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Crossfire (Anonymous) says…
…three-year sexual relationship=thee years of rape…
This minister/molester raped a 15 year old.
How many did he rape before?
How many has he raped in the last 10 years?
How many will he rape in the next 10 years?
20 April 2008 at 7:31 a.m.
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classclown (Anonymous) says…
Cue old movie dramatic music.
20 April 2008 at 7:50 a.m.
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Warren6032 (Anonymous) says…
I don't think Marion & IGW likes each other. Can't we all just get along. Both need a hug LOL
20 April 2008 at 10:04 a.m.
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yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…
The delayed reporting is a question. My guess is she had tried to forget it, was ashamed about it, wanted to hide it from her family, (fill in blank).
Again , it doesn't matter. This youth minister, put in a position of authority over children, committed statutory rape for three years. Now, he is an ordained minister coming back to Kansas to head a congregation.
Could it be that this victim was moved to report this now because of the position of authority (over children) this statutory rapist will once again assume?
20 April 2008 at 10:23 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
There is also the likilhood that the entire story is a fabrication like the “repressed memory” craze of a few years back.
I'm not taking any bets but it would not surprise me.
20 April 2008 at 11:22 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
IGW:
You need to go take your meds.
Your OCD is showing badly.
This thread is not about Leuchter, Irving, McCollough or the Sun, Moon and Stars.
Stick to the subject if you can restrain yourself, OK?
If not, please take a hike so that we can engage in rational on-topic discussion!
20 April 2008 at 11:37 a.m.
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yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…
“There is also the likilhood that the entire story is a fabrication like the “repressed memory” craze of a few years back.
I'm not taking any bets but it would not surprise me.”
This is in fact a possibility. However, Judge Fairchild was apparently convinced to the point of bringing charges. As we can only assume the judge is more familiar with the facts than we are, it is a good thing you are not placing any bets.
20 April 2008 at 11:48 a.m.
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beatle919 (Marcy McGuffie) says…
“She waited until he was getting married to another to raise the point of what he “did to her” He may have done wrong and it should be investigated but shes 24 now for petes sake and she has known for a while that it was wrong to carry on a “relationship” with this guy. only now the tables have turned and he wants someone else.”
Reread the article. He was getting married when she was 18 and came forward a year ago when she must have been 23. If she wanted “revenge,” for him moving on with another, she'd have sought it then, don't you think?
20 April 2008 at 12:14 p.m.
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dorothyhr (Dorothy Hoyt-Reed) says…
Of course he is a Christian so he will go to heaven. If she was turned off by her religion because of the incident, but became a kind loving person, she will go to hell. Or at least that's what some churches say. This church may be about good deeds (I don't stereotype Christians), so they are appalled enough not to allow him to be a minister. At least they weren't gay or got an abortion. Those sins apparently send you to hell whether or not you are a Christian, according to some sects.
20 April 2008 at 1:24 p.m.
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beatrice (Anonymous) says…
“Why is it that these things surface only after many years have passed?”
Because children don't have the maturity to understand the situation they are in at the time. There are issues of guilt mixed with attraction, humiliation, desire etc… to be dealt with when an adult becomes sexually involved with a minor. In many cases, only as adults do the victims come to realize how bad the situation really was, and they realize they can do something about it before it happens again to another child. That is why these things might not say something earlier.
The victim in this case should be applauded for coming forward, not vilified as we find so many here trying to do to her. Would you rather she say nothing if you knew the next victim would be your child, your neice, your neighbor? It just might be.
However, I guess some people would prefer victims keep quiet, especially after a period of time has passed. I'm quite sure pedophiles have this viewpoint.
20 April 2008 at 1:50 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
YWN:
Judges to not “bring charges”. Prosecuting attorneys bring charges.
The judge merely rules at preliminary, which doesn't mean a whole lot as people are all the time being bound over fro trial on the flimsiest of evidence.
The so-called “facts” in the case according to the article anyway, consist of an allegation made by the alleged victim and a “journal”; written by the alleged victim; when?;
No DNA, no medical exams, no physical evidence, no witnesses and no corroborating tesitmony; had there been, the LJW would most certainly have mentioned it!
The statute would have run out in four years also, which I find kind of interesting.
I'm only saying that I think there may be more than a little off with this case.
Now if a corroborating witness turns up or the guy confesses; not: confesses,,not pleads; two different things entirely, that's a different story.
It is also very interesting that the accusation constitutes conviction, at least as far a several posters here are concerned and therin lies the problem.
Guilty or not, this guy is essentially ruined for life, regardless of the outcome of the case.
There is something wrong with a system and a society which so condemns many people, especially considering the frequency of false allegations.
20 April 2008 at 2:09 p.m.
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yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…
Marion,
You are foolish to assume that all of the facts are reported in this story. Then again, you are foolish more often than not, so never mind.
To hide behind the “accusation not conviction” argument is silly. As if this rule is followed by anyone on this forum. It is a given, and is a weak argument. You resort to it because you have no other argument.
“For” is spelled “for”, not “fro”.
“Therin” is incorrect. Should be “therein”.
This sentence is a real mess. Maybe you should have another go at it:
“Now if a corroborating witness turns up or the guy confesses; not: confesses,,not pleads; two different things entirely, that's a different story.”
20 April 2008 at 2:21 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Yes, Dr. IGW Phil.
20 April 2008 at 2:49 p.m.
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World_Vision (Anonymous) says…
I agree that this case sounds a bit odd. But we also have to remember that ljworld reporting, like any newspaper, can omit a lot of information while framing other information out of context. So all we really have to go by is taking this article at face value.
Having said that. I do think it is odd when a victim takes so long to come forward. But I do know that it can take victims a long time to get a handle on their experience and become emotionally able to deal with the legal and stressful aspects of coming forward.
Even so. 28 year olds can and do make mistakes and make bad decisions. I am not sold on the idea that this makes him a pederast or a permanent danger to anyone else. What would be very telling is if other victims come forward.
As was mentioned before, there does not appear to be any evidence, at least as far as we know. Other then her diary, which could probably easily be kept out of evidence oddly enough as 'hearsay', even though she wrote it herself. It would be very easy to fake and forge a diary. But if that truly where the case, and nothing had ever happened, then why would this victim come forward? What would be her motivation?
She mentioned that she is bothered and scared that this man might work in a church where her younger brother goes. Shouldn't it be obvious on its face that this guy is into girls, and not boys? Her saying that sounds like purely inflammatory baiting for public opinion.
20 April 2008 at 3:35 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
beatrice (Anonymous) says…
Because children don't have the maturity to understand the situation they are in at the time. There are issues of guilt mixed with attraction, humiliation, desire etc… to be dealt with when an adult becomes sexually involved with a minor… only as adults do the victims come to realize how bad the situation really was, .. realize they can do something about it before it happens again to another child. That is why these things might not say something earlier.
_________________
Bea is exactly right.
I know this from 1st hand experience, a few years older than the girl above & the age spread was greater..thus more apt to think it was okay at the time.
(Well, not the first time, I was “demandingly coerced” into sex on the second meeting. As in, “You've done this before,you're not a virgin, we're both highly intelligent adults, you don't think I flew all the way up here and we weren't going to do this.It's not new to you, why should we wait. We'd be doing this in a few days anyway.”)I lay under him thinking, “This is wrong!!!!!”
Much more to the story, but not for here.
There's another twist.
My later recognizing the limitation of men's functional relationship abilities, even under 40. You think they gain wisdom and should know right from wrong by 20 something. But in fact, many don't learn a lot of that until 50. I know 70 year olds who still avoid being held accountable for their actions to their children. They don't want the interference, even in hospitalization, etc.
20 April 2008 at 3:54 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
World Vision. Yes. I agree.
I still have a box of all my old letters. Including daily letters from this man for many months.This man had a very busy schedule, he was the director of a high level blah blah blah.He clearly was intent on this long distance relationship.I of course didn't keep the letters detailing our encounters,since I lived with parents, the most incriminating detailed doing things he liked to point out were illegal in the state we had been in at the time. Not because of age.
Let's just say the nay-sayer guys in the KU Union bowling league that we interacted with were totally flipped out when I handed over that letter I had just read myself. I'm sure most of them had not done those things yet LOL.
They bowled terribly that night. I guess they were distracted LOL.
20 April 2008 at 5:11 p.m.
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compmd (Anonymous) says…
Marion,
Your 1:50pm post is excellent.
20 April 2008 at 9:10 p.m.
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trackstar (Anonymous) says…
I really think that it interesting to see just how much time you people spend out of your day to leave comments on stories that aren't even on the front page of the paper. You people must have a lot of time on your hands. Anyway, there are many cases where people keep information quiet due to being threatened or they just repress the memory of the event until something triggers the emotion all over again. In this case, you have a girl who seems like she very much involved in her church and youth group that she may have been looked down upon after she told. Or the sicko really did use his authority abusively and made her keep it quiet. But you all are a little bit weird for skipping a beautiful day today and spending all day inside writing stupid comments that will not affect any part of the whole trial. Go outside once and a while and do something productive.
20 April 2008 at 10:01 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
compmd:
Thanks!
20 April 2008 at 10:25 p.m.
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Gina (Gina Bailey-Carbaugh) says…
Hmm, between Marion and IGW, its easy to forget what was the origin of this thread.
Oh, yeah, a young girl was taken advantage of by a much older man in a position of authority. His a sicko, she's a victim.
21 April 2008 at 1 a.m.
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trackstar (Anonymous) says…
Another thing to add…It is interesting to see so many insults at each other on a newspaper's website like people are really going to care what it said on a blog. These stories are not put here to provide an excuse to argue with each other about who is more foolish. These are here to inform and keep Lawrence updated on what is going on around them. And the editors think these comments are going to help the issue. It may get more people to read the paper, but no one pays attention to the story that is posted. I think at times, these things are pointless and don't get the news across at all.
21 April 2008 at 2:25 a.m.
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toe (Anonymous) says…
Does anyone know the name of the church? Was it Good Shepherd?
21 April 2008 at 2:36 a.m.
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feeble (Anonymous) says…
He touches her 'cause he wants to feel it
We blame her for being there
We are all here
guilty
-Suggestion, 1989, FUGAZI