Black Collar Crime Round-Up: September 30, 2012
Sentenced: Dennis Lee Brown, 67, pastor, Ivester Church of the Brethren, Eldora, Iowa, to ten years in prison, according to the Waverly Democrat. In July, Brown pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual abuse of a 15-year-old boy he met online. Story: Conservative Babylon, February 3, 2012; Conservative Babylon, July 3, 2012; Conservative Babylon, August 5, 2012; Waverly Democrat (cache), September 6, 2012
Sentenced: Joe Flowers, Jr., 42, former pastor, Walk of Life Christian Center, Rochester, New York, to seven years in prison after pleading guilty in May to transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; i.e., taking a boy from New York to Florida for the purpose of having sex. Flowers is already serving a seven-year sentence for sexually abusing an eight-year-old boy whose parents belonged to Flowers’ church; the new sentence will run subsequent to his current sentence. Story: Conservative Babylon, May 23, 2012; WHEC, September 6, 2012
No indictment: Mark Allen Green, 41, pastor (until his arrest) of only two months, Marshall Baptist, Albertville, Texas, and former pastor (“for a couple of months”), Cowboy Church of Marshall County, Albertville, who was charged in May with two counts of sexual abuse of a child. According to media reports, a grand jury found insufficient evidence to return an indictment. Green reportedly has an extensive criminal background; past charges include auto theft, livestock theft, repeated thefts by check/passing bad checks, domestic violence and numerous traffic violations. Story: Conservative Babylon, June 8, 2012; Associated Baptist Press, September 26, 2012
New trial sought: Angel Morales, 34, former pastor, Casa de Restauracion, Leominster, Massachusetts, who was convicted in 2011 of two counts of child rape aggravated by age difference; on the grounds that Morales did not understand his rights because charging documents were not in Spanish. The Telegram & Gazette notes: “The victim, whose family attended Rev. Morales’ church, testified at his February 2011 trial that she and her pastor engaged in sexual intercourse three times in late 2009 and early 2010 when she was 14 years old.” Story: Telegram & Gazette, September 2, 2012
Sentenced: Richard Nachajski, 66, former Roman Catholic priest, St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Millmont, Pennsylvania, to two to seven years in prison plus $425,000 in restitution, following his guilty plea in August to stealing at least $400,000 from his church. Nachajski — who left the priesthood in 2009 to get married — wrote checks to himself and credit card companies for more than $325,000, bought a vehicle and a timeshare in a Mexican condominium, and paid for “international travel for himself and an unnamed companion.” Story: Conservative Babylon, August 11, 2012; WFMZ, September 26, 2012
Sentenced: Matt Pitt, 28, youth evangelist & founder of “The Basement” (an evangelistic “para-church organization that strongly believes in God’s vision of reaching the world through the local body of Christ”), Trussville, Alabama, to one year in jail, suspended, two years’ probation and a $1,000 fine after pleading guilty “to a reduced charge of attempting to impersonate a peace officer, a misdemeanor,” reports the Birmingham News, which adds: “Pitt was also required to apologize in the courtroom to Calera police.” Pitt was arrested in May and charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, a felony, after police “received a complaint about an unmarked Tahoe on I-65 pulling behind traffic and activating emergency flashing blue lights,” according to a police report. “When officers approached the vehicle Larry [Matthew] Pitt held up his wallet displaying a badge and photo ID card. Officers asked Pitt if he was an officer and he stated he was a deputy with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.” Story: Conservative Babylon, May 19, 2012; Conservative Babylon, June 5, 2012; Birmingham News, September 26, 2012
Charged: Brenda Kay Thomas, 54, director, Ocean View Baptist Church Teaching and Learning Center, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with failing to report allegations of child abuse against former preschool teacher Mary Lynn Boggs, 46, who has been charged with unlawful neglect of a child. Boggs is accused of harming a small girl by using excessive force to restrain her during nap time. Story: Conservative Babylon, September 29, 2012; CarolinaLive.com, September 29, 2012
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