Conservative Babylon

Sentenced to life again: Jason Robert Bourque, 20, described by his mother as a “good Christian young man,” and Daniel George McAllister, 22, Southern Baptist youth group members, after pleading guilty to a rash of Texas church fires. Bourque and McAllister will serve their sentences concurrently with the life sentences they received in January for five other church fires. Story: Conservative Babylon, December 28, 2010; Conservative Babylon, January 10, 2011; Conservative Babylon, January 17, 2011; KYTX (with video), February 8, 2011; Associated Baptist Press, February 9, 2011

Sentenced: Joseph Emil Klug, 30, former youth pastor, First Assembly of God, Collinsville, Illinois, to 32 years in prison, plus fines, restitution and sex-offender registration, after pleading guilty in September to producing and possessing child pornography. Upon his arrest in November, 2009, FBI agents found some 59,000 photos and 12,000 videos (some “contain[ing] sexual assaults involving infants and prepubescent children, including bondage and bestiality”) on his computer — or about 100GB, which is “roughly the equivalent of a pickup-truck load of paper.” Story: KTVI, February 9, 2011; BND.com, February 10, 2011

Charged again: Royce C. Shorter, 53, founder & executive director, Royce C. Shorter Ministries; pastor, Ecclesia Community Church; founder, Northwest Connection Community Choir; owner, N-Time Music Productions, Renton, Washington; volunteer program supervisor, Washington State Department of Corrections; with with two counts of third-degree rape and one count of third-degree child molestation related to five incidents of rape of a 15-year-old girl who was taking lessons at Shorter’s music studio. According to the Seattle PI: “Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor noted that Shorter was convicted of statutory rape in 1985 after he was caught having sex with a 12-year-old girl he met through a choir group. Spoor also told the court Shorter was charged and acquitted of having molested a 15-year-old girl in 1993.” Shorter’s next court appearance is scheduled for February 17, 2011. Both the Web site of Royce Clinton Shorter Ministries (RCSM) and Shorter’s Facebook page have already been scrubbed, although Shorter’s profile at Black Preaching Network remains online as of this writing. Story: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 8, 2011; MyNorthwest.com, February 9, 2011

Sentenced: Daron Mark Crown, 25, youth pastor, First Baptist Church, Salmon Arm, British Columbia, to “a nine-month conditional sentence [which means Crown will not be incarcerated for the nine-month term; instead he will serve his sentence in the community under a number of conditions ... [including] having no contact with the victim and remaining under house arrest except for employment or approved absences] and one year of probation after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl he met through church work”; Crown “must also provide a DNA sample and be registered with the sex offender database for a period of 10 years,” according to the Salmon Arm Observer. “Crown’s wife,” notes Castanet.net, “was reportedly pregnant when the relationship with the minor began in February 2010.” Story: Salmon Arm Observer, February 8, 2011; Castanet.net, February 9, 2011

We want to let you in on some administrivia:

Judging from the way folks come to ConBab and move around the site, we’ve come to the conclusion that not every religious miscreant (accused, convicted, or otherwise) is getting enough attention in our standard Black Collar Crime Round-Ups. (more…)

Claims to fame: Former Congressman from New York; Republican (of course); homophobe; anti-choicer; married father of a young son; alleged adulterer in the biblical sense; alleged online pervert; alleged shameless liar

Moral apex: Allegedly sent topless photos of himself as a come-on to a woman who posted an ad in the “Women Seeking Men” category on Craigslist. (more…)

Because we could spend 24/7 tracking the sins of right-wing religionists (especially “youth pastors”) and never catch up. Of the following, the more interesting cases will probably end up with their very own Conservative Babylon entries.

Sentenced: James Cox, 70, former church deacon & executive director, Honey Creek Episcopal Retreat Center, Waverly, Georgia, to five years’ probation, a $1,000 fine and banishment from Camden County and four surrounding counties, after pleading guilty to second-degree cruelty to children. Cox was originally charged with sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography in 2007, “after church officials reported finding photographs of nude girls on his computer.” Story: WKMG, March 23, 2007; Augusta Chronicle, February 8, 2011 (more…)

We don’t give a horse’s patoot if Roy R. Browne identifies as gay; anybody who identifies as a Baptist Republican is a conservative — and is propping up two of the most rabidly oppressive, anti-gay institutions in the United States world.

We have no idea if this boy is guilty or innocent (but you can guess our guess): (more…)

BOY SCOUTS
OF BABYLON

The parents of the boys testified that their lives have been turned upside down. The boys are angry, withdrawn, their grades suffering. They’ve lost friends. Relations within the family are strained. Worse yet, there’s no telling when, or even if, they’ll ever recover emotionally.

“It makes me sick to my stomach to think what my children endured,” their father said.
 

— Southeast Missourian
February 4, 2011

(more…)

There’s something about the name “Apostles of Infinite Love”… Oh, never mind — just read the story:

The Brooklyn nun who claimed she had been raped by a rather large black man is now admitting she made the entire thing up to hide a consensual sexual relationship she was having with a shop worker inside the convent. (more…)

BOY SCOUTS
OF BABYLON

William Arther Hoefling, 50, former scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop 781, hosted by Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Plymouth, Michigan, was convicted in December on multiple charges relating to the sexual abuse of two 16-year-old boys in his troop — never mind that he is the father of two boys himself. On Thursday, he was sentenced to three-to-20 years in prison. Ugly details: Plymouth Patch, January 27, 2011; Hometownlife.com, January 30, 2011

Because we could spend 24/7 tracking the sins 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.

Charged: Jeffrey Lynn Crosley, 35, former youth minister, Jesus Messiah Evangelical Free Church, Hanover, Pennsylvania, with multiple counts of sexual abuse allegedly committed against two teenage boys, including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and statutory sexual assault. Since his arrest, police say he has “admitted to having sexual relationships with approximately 10 boys between the ages of 12 to 13.” Police also say Crosley’s home computer contained images of child pornography; additional charges are expected to be filed. A hearing is slated for February 9, 2011. Story: Evening Sun, February 4, 2011; WHTM, February 4, 2011; York Dispatch, February 5, 2011 (more…)

See main entry for Tom Daniels

See all entries for Tom Daniels

Just read — and shake your head, repeatedly, in utter revulsion:

See our special series, Boy Scouts of Babylon

See all Boy Scouts entries

The irony is not lost on us that Stephen Wise was a TV production teacher at Lake Nona High School, Orange County, Florida. He was also (until his arrest) a Boy Scout leader, Troop 25, Orlando, and now he’s a suspect, charged with ten counts of possession of child porn, after sheriffs “found thousands of images of boys as young as 11 years old” on his home computer. (more…)

Because we could spend 24/7 tracking the sins 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. (And, no, we didn’t plan this to be an “First-Names-Are-All-D’s Edition.”)

Hearing waived: Dino Cardelli, 49, anti-gay founder & former senior pastor, Calvary Chapel of Arcata, California, charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse against two minor girls, including one of his own adopted daughters. Since Cardelli’s re-arrest for violating a court order to refrain from contact with one of his two alleged victims, his son turned over Cardelli’s laptop computer to the District Attorney, as well as social-networking information that appears to confirm Cardelli’s prohibited contact with the alleged victim via Facebook. Cardelli’s arraignment is scheduled for February 14, 2011. Story: Conservative Babylon, September 16, 2010; Conservative Babylon, November 2, 2010; Conservative Babylon, January 14, 2011 (more…)

See main entry for Charles McVety

See all entries for Charles McVety

While some sources (that is, rabidly right-wing, McVety-loving sources such as “Canada Free Press,” which is much like Wingnut Worldnet Daily, but even less well-known) are claiming the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council “forced” the cancellation of froth-mouthed, gay-bashing televangelist Charles McVety’s “Word TV,” the truth (and the good news) comes directly from Crossroads Television System (CTS), the Christian broadcaster that yanked McVety’s program-o’-hate because McVety couldn’t refrain from violating CTS’s own code of conduct.

Here’s the most revealing January 31st press release from CTS (bold emphasis ours): (more…)

See main entry for Paul Lewis

See all entries for Paul Lewis

Trial delayed until February 17th, while Lewis’s mouthpiece “can examine [additional] documents” filed today. Story: Go-Jamaica, February 2, 2011

Because we could spend 24/7 tracking the sins 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.

Arraigned: Charles Michael Abdelahad, pastor for 20 years (until December, 2010), St. George Antiochan Orthodox Cathedral, Worcester, Massachusetts, on one count of rape, four counts of assault and battery, and five counts of assault and battery with a weapon, allegedly committed against a woman. Court records recount allegations of Abdelahad beating the woman, biting her all over her body, and hitting her with a “religious icon,” among other forms of assault, all of which, in addition to the rape, is alleged to have occurred at the church. Story: Telegram, January 31, 2011 (more…)

Do you need us to comment on the sad irony of these statements by the relatives of 19-year-old Jahmell W. Crockam — whose nickname is “Sav,” short for “Savage” — and who, reports the Asbury Park Press, “has been charged in the separate slayings of [Police] Officer Christopher Matlosz, 27, and Justin Williams, 20″? (more…)