http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/8/125672/1.ashx associated thread on uncontrolled dirty old man sex crazed JW elder No jail time for church elder
Waterloo Record, Canada -
A respected Jehovah's Witness elder was put on probation for two years yesterday for molesting a young girl while they were going door to door to spread ... Probation for man who fondled girl while on Jehovah's Witness visits BRIAN CALDWELL A respected Jehovah's Witness elder was put on probation for two years yesterday for molesting a young girl while they were going door to door to spread their faith. "It's like a priest fondling a child during a religious service," said Crown prosecutor Mark Poland. Claude Martin, 77, was convicted of sexual assault for touching the 10-year-old girl's buttocks and vagina over her clothes while they were standing on the landing of a Kitchener home in 2000 or 2001. He was acquitted after a five-day trial in Ontario Court of a second count involving a girl who was about the same age during an alleged incident in the late 1980s. Although it was not admitted as evidence, the court also heard about a 2003 statement in which Martin told police he had a problem with sexual fantasies involving young girls. He gave the statement while police were investigating an allegation that Martin exposed himself to a 12-year-old girl delivering newspapers. He was not charged in that incident. Defence lawyer James Marentette argued Martin paid a heavy price for the brief fondling incident after being stripped of his leadership responsibilities with the Bridgeport congregation of the church. "He is a sad and somewhat broken man as a result of the loss of those important elements of his life," said Marentette. Poland , however, stressed the breach of trust involved in the crime because the girl and her family looked up to Martin. Outside court, he also criticized leaders of the congregation for being "completely uncooperative" with police during their investigation. Members of the girl's family have said they felt elders tried to sweep the matter under the carpet after they turned to them first before going to the police. "Frankly, I think they need to be embarrassed into helping us find what the truth is in these cases," said Poland . Ross Eddy, the presiding elder of the congregation, referred questions about its handling of the case yesterday to lawyer David Gnam. Gnam called Poland 's criticisms "unprofessional" and said the fact Martin has lost his leadership role -- although not his membership -- is evidence the congregation has taken action. "It's certainly not the position of the congregation to harbour people who sexually take advantage of children -- absolutely not," he said. Gnam said elders were in a difficult position during the investigation because they considered information about the incident confidential as a result of their pastoral role in the congregation. Martin addressed the court during his sentencing, but did not apologize to the girl or her family. Instead, he apologized to Justice Michael Epstein for his demeanour during the trial and expressed regret that the victim and her family have left the church. Epstein agreed the timing of the assault during door-to-door preaching was an "extremely aggravating circumstance." He also noted its devastating impact on the girl. "He represented the church in her eyes," said Epstein. "He was an elder, a well-respected man." But he also took into account Martin's age, the loss of his position in the church and his humiliation because of publicity on the case. The probation term includes an order to get counselling. In addition, Epstein placed Martin on a sex offender registry, prohibited him from working with children and banned him from parks, pools and other places kids are known to gather. [email protected] write reporter on case Newsroom Mailboxes News: [email protected]
Letters to the editor:[email protected] --------------------------------------------------
News item # 2 JW Deviant Verse in the news again Professionals Disagree On Verse Treatment
abc7news.com, CA - 1 hour ago
... resolved the conflict between his own homosexual behavior and his strong adherence to the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, which disapproves of homosexuality. ... |
UPDATE: PROFESSIONALS DIFFER ON VERSE TREATMENT
01/05/07 7:00 PST MARTINEZ (BCN) Mental health professionals differed today over whether four-time convicted sex offender Cary Verse should be re-hospitalized for extensive in-patient treatment following a series of lapses. At a five-hour hearing in Contra Costa County Superior Court, Deputy District Attorney Brian Haynes presented two professionals who said they think Verse should be sent back to Atascadero State Hospital, where he previously was treated for six years before being released in 2004. But Verse's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ron Boyer, presented three professionals who said they think it would be better for Verse, 36, to be allowed to continue to live at a cottage in Bay Point as long as he's subjected to increased monitoring and treatment. Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge John W. Kennedy will rule on Verse's fate Monday after the two lawyers present their closing arguments. Jayne Shale, the community program director for Liberty Healthcare, a firm that contracts with the state Department of Mental Health to monitor Verse, said she's concerned that Verse violated the terms of his release when he was caught driving with a 14-year-old boy after police stopped him for a broken taillight on Nov. 18 in Walnut Creek. Because all of Verse's victims were male, he is barred from driving with male passengers. Shale said she's also concerned that Verse has been "dishonest" about associating with an ex-felon who has convictions on child molestation and illegal weapons charges and writing a letter to a "mentally disordered offender" at Atascadero . Shale said Verse, who works at a cleaning service, also was deceptive with monitoring officials about having contact with a man who runs a Day Care Center at his home. Dale Arnold, a consulting psychologist at Atascadero , said Verse's lapses were the result of "very poor choices" and Verse has "put himself at risk" by his behavior. But Arnold said he believes Verse "has reached the maximum benefit of in-patient treatment" because he was at Atascadero for a long period of time and fears that if he stays there for a long stretch again he will lose the network of supportive friends he currently has in the Bay Point area. Verse has a history of violent sexual assaults against adults, the last one in 1992 against a 22-year-old man at a homeless shelter in Richmond . He spent six years at Atascadero after serving three years in state prison. In February 2004, he became the second designated sex predator released by the Department of Mental Health under a program that provides intensive rehabilitation for the state's most violent offenders. Verse lived for brief periods in Mill Valley, Oakland and San Jose after he was released but he drew huge community protests against him each time. After a hearing at which there were death threats against both Verse and the judge from angry community members, Verse was housed in 2005 at a rental cottage in Bay Point that belongs to local attorneys Anthony Ashe and his wife Ada Araceli Ramirez. The conditions of Verse's release include provisions that he always wear a satellite monitoring device, tell authorities where he's going and which route he plans to take whenever he leaves home, and attend weekly counseling. Verse has also undergone chemical castration. Verse was placed in the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez after he was taken into custody in November but he later was sent back to Atascadero , where he currently is being housed and treated. Psychiatrist Douglas Tucker, who thinks Verse should remain at Atascadero , testified that he's concerned because Verse at times doesn't believe that he suffers from "deviant sexual arousal." Tucker said Verse's denial is "an ongoing danger for him and for potential victims in the community." The witnesses who testified today all agreed that the 14-year-old boy who was in Verse's car in Walnut Creek had permission from his parents to be with Verse and that Verse hadn't planned to molest the boy. They also agreed that there's no evidence that Verse engaged in any deviant sexual behavior after being released from Atascadero in 2004. But Shale said she's concerned because the 14-year-old rode in Verse's car four or five times, not just once. Tucker said he's worried because two of Verse's previous victims were 14-year-old boys. "He's a smart guy and he knows better than all of us who his victims are and who he's attracted to," Tucker said. Tucker said Verse has " a history of deviant sexual arousal" with 14-year-old boys. In addition, Tuckersaid he's concerned that Verse hasn't resolved the conflict between his own homosexual behavior and his strong adherence to the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, which disapproves of homosexuality. By the end of the day, everyone seemed to be worn out by all the testimony about Verse's criminal and sexual history and his prospects for the future. Haynes said, "That was a lot of shrinks in one day." NOTE:Above article posted www.jehovahs-witness.com/8/124464/1.ashx JWD
