Black Collar Sex Crime Round-Up: October 21, 2009
Tomas Gonzalez • Jason Haynes • Peter Hedge
Patrick Janson • Norman Anthony Pugh • Fr. Robert Timchak
Because we could spend 24/7 tracking the sex crimes of right-wing religionists (especially “youth pastors”) and never get caught up. Of the following, the more interesting cases will probably end up with their very own Conservative Babylon entries.
Sentenced: Craig Coon, 46, former youth pastor, Cornerstone Church, Clyde Township, Michigan, to six months, the maximum sentence allowed, after pleading guilty to “accosting a child for immoral purposes,” involving an incident with a 13-year-girl November 11, 2008. Story: Conservative Babylon, October 14, 2009; Times Herald, October 19, 2009
Convicted: Paul Denton, 46, of “of seven counts of rape, one count of intimidating witnesses, and one count of sexual assault,” after “repeatedly raping a woman at his home in Daventry, on seven consecutive days” in 2007 “as a punishment for disobeying him.” He had denied all charges, calling the 32-year-old victim’s allegations “lies from the depths of hell.” Denton, “who legally changed his name to Lord Denton,” is described as a “religious fanatic, who opened his home in Daventry up to the public to promote Christianity.” (In March, 2008, Denton wrote a long, incoherent rant about his “mission” to “paedophobic” England ["a TSUNAMI of Great PROPORTIONS IS COMING UPON THIS LAND, ENGLAND... we are really in the last days... people... the time is really at hand...!"], and how the derelict bus in his yard [which he placed there as a "haven" for local children] had been vandalized.) Having traveled the world as a “missionary,” Denton had “returned from Russia in late 2007 after a month away preparing an airship” — a Zeppelin — ” to spread the word of the Gospels.” Claiming to be the victim of a kidnapping by his own father, Denton was forced to leave his native South Africa “in 1981 after being part of a group that burned the national flag in a campus protest against apartheid. During the course of the trial, Denton’s unusual past and behaviour was raised, including his alleged use of prostitutes, and the fact he would call himself the Messiah.” As he was led away after the verdict, “he shouted: ‘Hallelujah, Jesus Christ is Lord, read Matthew 24.’” He is scheduled for sentencing December 7, 2009. Story: Harrow Observer, October 15, 2009; idaventry.com, October 20, 2009; Northampton Chronicle & Echo, October 20, 2009
Sentenced: Brent Gabriel Edwards, 34, youth pastor/president of Extreme Revolution Youth Ministries (of which his wife Christy is vice president), “which operates the Oasis Teen Center,” Lake Worth, Florida, to three years after pleading guilty to having a year-long sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl he was “counseling for emotional issues because the girl had been cutting herself… At one point, the girl said, Edwards gave her a ring ‘and told her they were now like a married couple so they could have sexual relations,’ the sheriff’s report said.” Story: Palm Beach Post, November 24, 2008; October 21, 2009
Sentenced: Tomas Gonzalez, 61, pastor, Templo Nueva Vida, Donna, Texas, to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to four (out of 18) counts of sexual assault and indecency with a child. After his arrest, other alleged victims came forward; one was a young boy. Another, “a 15-year-old girl, claimed she had been sexually assaulted by Gonzalez since she was about 5 years old.” Two of Gonzalez’s victims were his 12- and 15-year-old granddaughters. Story: FoxRio2.com: June 23, 2009; July 13, 2009; ValleyCentral.com: June 24, 2009; October 16, 2009
Accused: Jason Haynes, 37, elementary school janitor and youth volunteer, Full Gospel Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia, of sexually assaulting a teenage girl from his church. Haynes has been placed on paid leave pending results of the investigation. “It’s the second time this year that a youth volunteer at the church has been in trouble with the law. Timothy John Tyson is charged with possessing, accessing and distributing child porn. His case goes to trial in January.” Story: Chronicle Herald, October 19, 2009
Sentenced: Peter Hedge, 47, curate, St. Margaret’s Church, Thornbury, Bradford, and vicar, Holy Trinity Church, Queensbury, U.K., to 14 years for “raping two young boys and sexually attacking others” over two decades. The judge in the case called Hedge a “‘dreadful disgrace’ to the church,” said his “wickedness defied description,” and told Hedge directly: “You scarred and blighted the lives of young boys who trusted you as a pastor and friend.” Story: Conservative Babylon, October 8, 2009; BBC, October 16, 2009
Arrested: Patrick Janson, 42, drama teacher & choir director, St. Joseph Academy, a Cleveland, Ohio, all-girls Catholic high school, and local actor, “on a warrant for sexual battery involving a former student.” A statement from the school implies that there was more than one victim. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit: (216) 623-5630. Story: WKYC; Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 21, 2009
Arrested: Norman Anthony Pugh, 43, former youth minister, Arnoldsville Baptist Church, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, on multiple charges of child molestation against a girl under the age of 14. In 2006, Pugh was acquitted of molesting a different girl, age 14. Story: Online Athens, June 23, 2005; Augusta Chronicle, November 17, 2006; Online Athens, October 14, 2009
Arraigned: Fr. Robert Timchak, a.k.a. “Father Bob,” 43, pastor, Parish Community of Transfiguration and Ss. Peter and Paul, West Hazleton, Pennsylvania, “on 19 charges, including possessing child pornography and tampering with evidence.” The church site’s history page notes (emphasis ours): “In July, 2000 Reverend Robert Timchak became our pastor. Father’s love of the children and youth was evident from his first day as pastor.” Timchak is currently free without bail on his own recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled November 4, 2009. Story: Times Leader, October 20, 2009; NBC Philadelphia, October 20, 2009
Charged: Unnamed “lay preacher and marriage guidance counsellor”, New Zealand, with multiple counts of sexual assault and stalking against “two of his ex-wives and a stepson. … He said this week the charges were false. ‘My ex-wife has been a right pain, has been for years. …’” He also claims his ex-wives had cooked up a conspiracy against him. Story: New Zealand Herald, October 18, 2009
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