Some of us are following Steven closely Barbara. Your word is golden. Thank you for sharing and keeping us updated.
Tylinbrando
JoinedPosts by Tylinbrando
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I'm posting here an informative email from STEVEN UNTHANK
by AndersonsInfo inyesterday, a jwn poster e-mailed me asking if i would post on this discussion board his recent email to steven unthank and also post stevens reply.
the reason for the request is because the poster has need to remain completely anonymous.
i agreed to share the email because i knew you would find stevens reply informative and interesting.. .
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Former Elder Michael J Norris IN CUSTODY
by Tylinbrando infbi and santa barbara agents arrested michael at the airport.
he is locked up in santa barbara county jail.
he awaits bail hearing and i intend on presenting evidence to revoke his $250,000.00 bail.. thanks to everyone for your encouragement and support!.
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Tylinbrando
Quepos expat back in U.S. to face child sex charge
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
A suspected child molester who has lived in Quepos since 2006 is finally in custody in the United States. The case has religious dimensions because the man, Michael J. Norris, 67, was an elder of the Jehovah's Witnesses congregation where the long-running molestation is alleged to have taken place.
A warrant for Norris was issued in Santa Barbara, California, in December. The Sheriff's Office there posted his photo and a request for information. But persons associated with the Carpinteria, California, congregation knew exactly where the man was. They notified sheriff's detectives and employees at the U.S. Embassy here.
There are conflicting reports on where Norris was detained. One version is that he was arrested when he got off a plane at Los Angeles International Airport. A second version is that he was detained here at a Costa Rican airport and escorted to Los Angeles by law officers where the official arrest took place.
In any event, he is in the Santa Barbara county jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. The allegations include multiple counts of molesting a minor under the age of 14. There also is an allegation of distributing pornography to a minor. The investigation has been going on for a year or more.
Although living in Costa Rica, Norris returned to the Santa Barbara area several times, including once in July 2011, said a person close to the case. A girl at that time accused Norris of attempting to molest her, the person said. Some months later, the girl made allegations of a long-running series of molestations dating back to 2002. That is when law officers became involved.
Santa Barbara Sheriff's Detective Ted Toedte praised the help from the U.S. government. "The State Department reached out to me regarding this case and from day one they were extremely helpful and remained in constant contact with me," he said. "I was just in the process of writing their office to extend our gratitude to them for all their efforts." He is with the fugitive unit.
At the embassy here, a spokesman said that the delay between the time officials knew the location of Norris and his detention was due to negotiations.
"I would disagree with your characterization that it took so long," said the embassy spokesman. "Our regional security office is working on a significant caseload of fugitive files at any given time. Considering that he was working through his attorney to return to the United States, it is clear
Michael Norris
that this was a case brought to a timely and successful conclusion. I believe the detective in Santa Barbara would agree."
Norris lived on a farm about 10 minutes outside of Quepos on the central Pacific coast. He was reported to have constructed a home there.
There also were conflicting statements as to whether Norris had a lawyer negotiate his surrender. That was the original reason officials here did not mount an effort to arrest him. A second version is that negotiations failed and that U.S. law officers encountered Norris at the airport and caused him to return to California.
The Norris case is unusual because he was the topic of many postings on the Internet. Some of the postings included his location. In addition, there was criticism of church leaders. There also were suggestions that there was more than one young victim. Norris was believed to have been associated with the Carpinteria congregation for decades before he moved to Costa Rica.
A woman closely associated with the case said by email that "We, too, are fed up with molesters being protected by religious groups. We are proceeding with civil litigation against Watchtower (Jehovah's Witnesses) and family members that harbored . . . " Norris.
The woman said that although may persons associate with the religious congregation knew of the molestation allegations in July 2011, none made a police report -
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verybelated intro: Tylin
by Tylinbrando inso i have been a lurker on this forum since its inception.
i registered over a year ago.
i jumped in several months back with a highly controversial subject of my daughter being sexually abused by an elder and the efforts we were taking to bring him to justice.
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Tylinbrando
Blindnomore and CrazyBlondedeb, thank you for sharing. Since our case began there have been 3 others from my circle of acquaintances and area that have come forward with their abuse issues at the hands of the organization. Brick by brick.
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Former Elder Michael J Norris IN CUSTODY
by Tylinbrando infbi and santa barbara agents arrested michael at the airport.
he is locked up in santa barbara county jail.
he awaits bail hearing and i intend on presenting evidence to revoke his $250,000.00 bail.. thanks to everyone for your encouragement and support!.
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Tylinbrando
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/3944814
I cant seem to figure out embedding on the video....
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Victoria, Australia, Newspaper article: Child in Jehovah's Witness Court Bid
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.theage.com.au/victoria/child-in-jehovahs-witness-court-bid-20130217-2elcg.htmlchild in jehovah's witness court bid.
february 18, 2013barney zwartza traralgon child has clubbed his pocket money together with three others, paying $69.70 to launch a private criminal prosecution against the jehovah's witnesses.. the child, 11, who is due to give evidence on monday at the state inquiry into how the churches handled child sex abuse, wanted to force the church to comply with working with children laws.
after four hearings, to which church leaders did not send a representative, the church began complying and the office of public prosecutions intervened to discontinue the case.. the inquiry will also hear from anti-jehovah's witness campaigner steven unthank, a former member of the church who says he and his family were ostracised and persecuted after he tried to tackle child abuse.. his submission alleges the church and its incorporated body, the watchtower society, covered up criminal child abuse, including rape, sexual assault, death threats, blackmail and assault, across four states by ordained ministers and officers of the church.. advertisementthe victorian and civil administrative tribunal will hear a religious vilification complaint against the church by mr unthank in may, after the church said people who left the church, as he had, were ''mentally diseased''.. and the victorian health services commissioner is investigating a complaint by another former gippsland church member that a jehovah's witness chaplain was found alone without permission with a naked toddler in a room at latrobe regional hospital.. the child appearing today, who cannot be named, has asked the inquiry to determine whether the church's failure to get working with children checks between july 2008 and december 2011 amounted to criminal child abuse of all 6160 jehovah's witness children in victoria.. he asks why the government and police let the church ''get away with'' non-compliance, and whether the state will help file a class action against the church.. the submission suggests the 2000 jehovah's witnesses who worked with children were committing criminal offences each week.
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Tylinbrando
Marked, posted and shared. Thanks to Steven for his hard work.
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Whacky comments! What the craziest comment you've ever heard?
by toweragent inlast week a sister in my new hall made the following comment,.
"a brother once told me that it is better to be wrong with the organization, than to be right and be on your own without the organization.".
wow.
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Tylinbrando
During a public talk on marriage and the three chords blah blah blah, an elder with a particularly homely wife who wore the same dress every meeting made the statement....
"Brothers, if you want to be truly happy....marry an ugly woman."
On another occasion, another elder addressing specifically the youths stated,
"If and when you find yourself masturbating, remember there is a band of angels observing you"
And one more,
"How many times do you engage in sexual intercourse during the week? Surely your meeting attendance should display that it is more important in your life than having sex." (Most of the wives nodding in happy agreement)
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verybelated intro: Tylin
by Tylinbrando inso i have been a lurker on this forum since its inception.
i registered over a year ago.
i jumped in several months back with a highly controversial subject of my daughter being sexually abused by an elder and the efforts we were taking to bring him to justice.
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Tylinbrando
Robert thank you for asking. My boys are in good health. They spend their weekdays with their JW mom and new Step Dad. Like any shared custody arrangement they have their challenges. Primarily for them is meetings, and service and family study which they do not like and are vocal about. Of course I get blamed for that. I try to teach them thinking skills and reason. I do not attack their mom or her beliefs and in fact I encourage them to keep peace with her. My middle son has some learning disabilities but he is very bright. We have recently enrolled him in IEP programs to help at school. My youngest boy is the observer. He takes everything in and scrutinizes it. I believe he is the brightest of my three. At my household we are striving to give them a "normal" upbringing. I have them for all holidays and school vacations. I suppose in a way I am living vicariously through them watching them enjoy all the things I missed out on a youth growing up in the organization. They are great boys. Of course my hope is that they grow to be great men.
My step daughter is also doing amazing in school. She is a dancer. She is strong and smart. She is a best friend and sister to my girl.
My lady is everything I wish I could be. Confident, sure, brilliant, professional, capable and the best mother I've ever seen. I would delve into her story but she is also a member of this forum and Im sure in time she will introduce herself and her journey. It fascinates me every day. And if she chooses to, the details will have all of you shaking your head in disbelief and wonder.
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verybelated intro: Tylin
by Tylinbrando inso i have been a lurker on this forum since its inception.
i registered over a year ago.
i jumped in several months back with a highly controversial subject of my daughter being sexually abused by an elder and the efforts we were taking to bring him to justice.
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Tylinbrando
Thank you everyone for your posts and your PMs! I wish I had done an into much earlier. Such a small world. My greatest strengths come from knowing so many of you have deep wells of struggle, strife and frustrations. It brings an odd sense of relief knowing Im not on this island alone. Thank you Thank you Thank you.
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verybelated intro: Tylin
by Tylinbrando inso i have been a lurker on this forum since its inception.
i registered over a year ago.
i jumped in several months back with a highly controversial subject of my daughter being sexually abused by an elder and the efforts we were taking to bring him to justice.
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Tylinbrando
So I have been a lurker on this forum since its inception. I registered over a year ago. I jumped in several months back with a highly controversial subject of my daughter being sexually abused by an elder and the efforts we were taking to bring him to justice. Immediately I was bombarded with being a "troll" and many were skeptical. Some where supportive. Some even lead me in the direction to seek help. The thread I started was deleted.
Now all of you know who I am. Many have taken the time to research me. Many have developed a very close bond and been instrumental in helping my daughter and I. Enough of all that.
Being cast out from an organization that you have only known since birth is catastrophic. Keeping a level head is not always easy. I have made many mistakes in my 42 years but I try to learn from them. This is an internet forum where everyone has an opinion and chances are they wont agree with yours. Still some of the people I have met on this very forum have saved my life. You have saved my daughters life. I thank you for that.
As you may gather, I was born in. 1970. Mom and Dad brought me into the world in Santa Barbara county and attended the Quarantina Congregation in Santa Barbara. They moved 15 miles south to Carpinteria and that is the congregation I was raised. I have a sister 6 years older.
Mom was great at training me as the perfect JW little boy. I was constantly rescuing my witness playmates from holiday celebrations and politcal ceremonies at school. I never had a problem explaining why being a JW exluded me from a plethora of activities.
My sister was "disassosciated" before her 18th birthday stemming from not returning home the night of her senior prom. I did not ever have contact with her again until the death of my mom 16 years ago.
I forfeited my 4.5 GPA and several college scholarships and opted to spend time pioneering and bethel service and learning a construction trade. I was married at 19 to a sister in my congregation. At 22 I was a MS. At 26 I was an Elder. By 32 I had 3 children.
I lost my mom to breast cancer 16 years ago. She was tormented by the shunning of my sister for 6 years. When I was only 8 my father, who was an elder, disclosed to my mother that he was gay. Of course I didnt learn of that until I was 21 and got to know my father better. Still, they remained married. And they vowed to stay "in the truth" Mom was very protective. I had a miniscule relationship with my father as I grew up. My father left the organization when I was 21. I maintained a relationship with him despite my being an elder and despite him being openly gay. My father committed suicide 4 years ago. He left a letter. It was breif. He told me of his being abused sexually by his presiding overseer between ages 12-16. He told me of being raped in Bethel by 5 boys and 1 overseer. He told me I was the only thing he had ever done right in his life. My father married my mother and my mother had a 2 year old daughter at the time. My sister. I learned much later in my childhood that my sisters father had been decapitated in a car accident on Christmas Eve when she was in my mothers tummy.
My father to this day is one of my heroes. Ive never known a more sincere or compassionate man. Yes he had flaws. But dont we all? Likewise, my mother was also remarkable. I remember her staying up with me until 3 or 4 in the morning helping me with my adolescent problems.
So at 29, an elder, I find myself missing my sister. Missing my mom. Missing my dad even though he is alive. I begin to question everything. I become cynical. I get on the internet and start educating myself.
Learning TTATT is not easy. At all. I stepped down from being an elder and before I even knew what fading was I had begun to do it. By 33 I attended no meetings. By 38 I attended no assemblies. 39 was the last year I attended memorial. It was the same year my wife left me for an older man, a JW. It was the same year I fought a nasty divorce and custody battle.
I managed to do ok. I have full custody of my daughter. I see my boys on weekends. I am in a loving relationship with an incredibly smart and beautiful woman. I have gained an equally remarkable step daughter. Yes my lady is an ExJW. We have known eachother for 20 years. Our daughters played together as toddlers. I am a VERY lucky man.
And that brings me to today. I am currently pursuing the prosecution of the former elder that molested my daughter. He is in jail awaiting trial. It has been overwhelming and exhausting. And I know its all just the beginning.
Many ask how my daughter is doing. Let me tell you, she is my hero. I have never known anyone as courageous. She is a straight A high school freshmen. She has already made her way to Staff Sargeant in the JROTC program. Last year she was named Character of the Year in Santa Barbara County by the United Way. She is strong. She is so wise despite her years. Her aspirations are to help children in a field relating to therapy or psychology.
There are a lot of crazy details and things most of you may never believe that I have left out. I think that is ok. Even at 42 I am struggling assimilating everything in my life. When it comes to spirituality I am so timid. I dont want to believe in anything anymore.
I do believe in the ones I love. And I am dedicating my life to taking care of them and protecting them the best I can.
This forum and the people that post are the best therapy anyone could ask for. Thank you for allowing me to participate.
tylin
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Former Elder Michael J Norris IN CUSTODY
by Tylinbrando infbi and santa barbara agents arrested michael at the airport.
he is locked up in santa barbara county jail.
he awaits bail hearing and i intend on presenting evidence to revoke his $250,000.00 bail.. thanks to everyone for your encouragement and support!.
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Tylinbrando
Glander thanks for the history! My parents moved into that KH in 1965. In the late 1990s we completely gutted and renovated the building. I did the tile work in the foyer and bathrooms, glass block and interior plaster. PITA. The upstairs library is now a 3rd school with the second school built in the back behind glass on the first floor. There is now 3 upper rooms. Aside from the 3rd school/library there is a large storage room for all the secret files and a meeting room for Elders to help the pedophiles escape prosecution...