Category: Grooming

1254: Lillie Bowman

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Lillie Bowman was a high school English teacher and trap team coach in Norris, Nebraska. In early April, a student told the school administrators about a sexual relationship between the trap-shooting coach and one of the students she was coaching. The school “investigated” and determined there was nothing amiss and warned the student who had come to them to stop talking about the teacher and the student she victimized or risk suspension. The also informed the school resource officer that the rumor was unfounded and called the mother of the student who reported the rumor.

A parent called the police who investigated and discovered Bowman had spoken with the studen more than 300 times. They also interviewed Bowman’s roommate who confirmed that Bowman said she had a relationship with the student and had the student at their apartment though Bowman tried to avoid doing that while her roommate was home.

Bowman was arrested in May 2023, and pleaded no contest in a plea deal in January 2024. She pled no contest to third-degree sexual abuse by a school employee, a class 4 felony, and was found guilty. She was originally charged with first-degree sexual abuse by a school employee, which is classified as a 2A felony. She may get up to two years in prison at sentencing.

America's News – Historical and Current Change Databases NewsBank home New Search A-Z Source List Session Folder Share Feedback Grand Island Independent, The (NE) September 27, 2023 Back to Results Previous 19 of 205 Next Text Size Cite Email Print Download Save to My Folder Copy Link Share to Google Classroom Norris school board investigates after teacher is accused of having sexual relationship with student September 27, 2023 | Grand Island Independent, The (NE) Author/Byline: JENNA EBBERS Lincoln Journal Star | Section: News 649 Words Read News Document The Norris Board of Education is conducting further internal investigations into the hiring and, ultimately, firing of the high school teacher who was arrested for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student in May. Per a district policy, a temporary committee was created and approved at a July board meeting in response to the May 19 arrest of Lillie Bowman, a high school English teacher and assistant trap coach at Norris High School, about 15 miles from Lincoln. "We felt this policy was the best way to be sure we were doing everything we could to mitigate the possibility of ever having an event like this again in our district," Board President Jim Devine said in an email. Bowman, 23, was charged with first-degree sexual abuse by a school employee after concerned parents reported a relationship between her and a student athlete to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office on May 14. In an interview with deputies, the student, who was on the trap team, revealed that he and Bowman had been in a relationship since March and had sex about 10 times. The day before her arrest, deputies obtained Bowman's phone records, and on the day of the arrest searched the south Lincoln apartment she shared with a roommate. Investigators discovered Bowman had spoken on the phone with the student more than 300 times since the start of April and found used condoms in her apartment — at least one was believed to have been recently used. Another Norris student first told Norris administration that rumors were circulating of a relationship between the two in early April. But, after interviewing Bowman, the student said to be involved and another student who was thought to have started the rumors, administrators determined there was no truth to them. The rumors and the results of their investigation were then relayed to the school resource officer, but no further action was taken. More than a month later, the Sheriff's Office began investigating the relationship, leading to Bowman's arrest. Now, a temporary committee, consisting of Devine and board members Gary Kubicek and Aaron Wubbels, is conducting its own investigation into the incident, beginning with Bowman's hiring and ending with her arrest. "This was a horrible incident in the history of our district," Devine said. "In full cooperation with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Department, I am confident we have taken this very seriously and will be ever more vigilant to be sure it never happens again." The group held their second meeting at the start of September and interviewed Superintendent Brian Maschmann about the details of Bowman's hiring, who was a first-year teacher and Norris alumna. The board members told Maschmann that the process is meant to fill in gaps of missing details because they had received a lot of information from community members from emails, public comment and investigations, but had not received much from him, according to meeting minutes published in the board's meeting agenda in September. After going over the hiring of Bowman, the committee asked Maschmann questions regarding trap team events, the investigation process used by the administration when rumors surfaced, what the superintendent learned from the investigation and concerns of student safety. Committee members were left with more questions in regard to the arrest of Bowman, which they will have the opportunity to ask at the next meeting, but ultimately Maschmann's answers were "helpful to better understand the big picture," according to the minutes. So far, Devine said he believes the committee has served its purpose to understand every detail of this incident in order to prevent anything like it from happening again. The committee is hoping to have a final report from its investigations to present at the November board meeting. "I am also confident that no person on the administrative team, teachers or employees of the district would ever compromise their personal integrity, ethics, professional careers and honor in the protection of our most valued responsibility — the safety of our students," Devine said. © Copyright, 2023, The Grand Island Independent, All Rights Reserved. ©2024 NewsBank, inc. Help Contact Customer Service Privacy Policy Terms of Use Listen Dictionary
Omaha World-Herald (NE)
September 29, 2023

1253: Paul Humphrey

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Paul Humphrey

Paul Humphrey is an Indianapolis Metro Police officer though he is currently suspended. He was arrested after police were informed by a school official that a student had been inappropriately touched by an adult and their investigation led to him.

During the interview, the child reported that she had known Humphrey since she was second grade. She said Humphrey “had sex” with her fifteen times during her sophomore year, that he put a tracking app on her phone, and that she acquiesced because she felt pressured because he was a father figure and a police officer.

She ended the abuse by the end of the year, telling Humphrey, “This isn’t what people like you are supposed to do. This is what people like you are supposed to protect people from.”

He was charged with;

  • Four counts of sexual misconduct with a minor
  • Three counts of child seduction (Really, Indiana, can’t you change the name?)
  • One count of obstruction of justice
  • One count of official misconduct
  • One count of voyeurism

Police were notified that he was going to kill himself. When they arrived, he was in a room with two gas generators running. They performed CPR and he was taken to a hospital. He was arrested a week later.

Parties to the Case Show all party details Defendant Humphrey, Paul State Plaintiff State of Indiana Charges Show all charge details 35-42-4-9(a)/F4: Sexual Misconduct with a Minor-Def. has intercourse with or engages in other sexual 35-42-4-9(a)/F4: Sexual Misconduct with a Minor-Def. has intercourse with or engages in other sexual 35-42-4-9(a)/F4: Sexual Misconduct with a Minor-Def. has intercourse with or engages in other sexual 35-42-4-9(a)/F4: Sexual Misconduct with a Minor-Def. has intercourse with or engages in other sexual 35-42-4-7(n)/F5: Child Seduction-Def. has a professional relationship with child and engages in sexu 35-42-4-7(n)/F5: Child Seduction-Def. has a professional relationship with child and engages in sexu 35-42-4-7(n)/F6: Child Seduction-Defendant has a professional relationship with child and fondles ch 35-44.1-2-2(a)(3)/F6: Obstruction of Justice-Def. alters, damages, or removes any record, document, (Attempt to Commit) 35-44.1-1-1(1)/F6: Official Misconduct def., a public servant, knowingly or intentionally commits an 35-45-4-5(b)(2)/MB: Voyeurism: Knowingly or Intentionally Peeps/Area Where An Occup. Disrobes Bonds Show all bond details Marion Corporate Surety Bond - $100,000.00
Indy.gov Case Search Site – search by name

1249: Micah Whitfield

Cajsa Lilliehook1 Comment
Micah Whitfield Photo via Beks

Micah Whitfield was the technical director of the Arend Arts Center and an employee of Bentonville Schools in Arkansas. He was also on the board of directors of Campfire Ministries local, which has been inactive in recent years. He was arrested for the sexual assault of a high school student.

With praiseworthy speed, called the school resource officer to report she had been sexually assaulted by him on January 27th. On the 28th, they interviewed the student and on the 29th he was arrested. During the interview, he admitted to the conduct she described. He was released on $50,000 bail on the 31st.

According to the student, he would tell her to go to the shop which was isolated and there is where he would assault her. She spoke of her college hopes and he said he would follow her. He became more aggressive with her and she was afraid of what he might do before she reported it to the Resource Officer.

Bentonville School District employee accused of sexual assault released from jail on $50,000 January 31, 2024 | Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Web Edition Articles (Little Rock, AR) Author/Byline: Tracy Neal | Section: News 358 Words | Readability: Lexile: 1180, grade level(s): 10 11-12 Read News Document BENTONVILLE — The technical director of Arend Arts Center at Bentonville High School was arrested after another student reported he sexually assaulted her friend, according to a probable cause affidavit. Micah Whitfield, 47, of Rogers was arrested Monday in connection with sexual assault. Prosecutors have not filed a formal charge against him. He was released Wednesday from the Benton County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Leslee Wright, a spokeswoman for Bentonville School District, previously said Whitfield was on leave and barred from district properties. The student told police Saturday about her concerns that her friend had been sexually assaulted. Police interviewed the girl, and she reported being sexually assaulted by Whitfield, according to the affidavit. She reported she had several encounters with Whitfield that were sexual in nature throughout the school year, according to the affidavit. She said Whitfield had kissed her, touched her inappropriately and sent text messages wanting to meet her, the affidavit states. The girl was also interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County, according to the affidavit. Police interviewed Whitfield, who admitted being in a position of authority over the girl in the theater program, according to the affidavit. The affidavit claims Whitfield said he was told not to have any more communications with the girl, but he made a Snapchat account and continued to communicate with her. He admitted to kissing the girl several times and asking her to send him photos of her, according to the affidavit. Siloam Springs District Judge A.J. Anglin ordered Whitfield not to have any contact with the girl. Whitfield's salary for this school year is $59,345, according to documents listed on the School District's website. Whitfield's LinkedIn profile says in his work as technical director at the Arend Arts Center he is responsible for various tasks such as managing installations at the center, overseeing design needs for all student productions and providing technical design workshops for technical theater students. The profile indicates he's held the job since September 2018. Whitfield is also listed on the website of Campfire Ministries as a member of the religious group's board of directors. However, the group's website and social media pages haven't shown any new activity since 2020. Caption: Micah Whitfield
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Bentonville School District employee accused of sexual assault released from jail on $50,000

1247: Cortney T. Andrew

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Cortney Ted Andrew

Cortney T. Andrew is a local leader in the Trenton Church of Latter Day Saints in Utah. He recently pleaded guilty to sexting a minor in his congregation.

Intriguingly, a local media said this happened several years ago which to me sounds like at least a decade ago. This happened in 2021.

Andrew was serving as a counselor with two other church leaders who oversaw the operations of the church. The victim told Cache County Sheriff’s deputies that she began communicating with Andrew for counseling. Their communication became sexual. He was grooming her for sex (rape.)

The victim’s mother reported it to the bishop who removed him from his post.

He was sentenced to sixty day with work release and two year of probation. He will be added to the sex offender registry.

FIRST DISTRICT - CACHE CACHE, STATE OF UTAH STATE OF UTAH vs. ANDREW, CORTNEY TED CASE NUMBER 231100274 - State Felony CURRENT ASSIGNED JUDGE: ANGELA FONNESBECK Parties Relationship Party Represented By Plaintiff STATE OF UTAH JOSHUA NEMETH RONNIE KELLER KENNETH PETERSON Defendant CORTNEY TED ANDREW SHANNON DEMLER Charges Offense Offense Date Charge 1 76-4-401(4)(A)(I) - ENTICE A MINOR BY INTERNET OR TEXT 2nd Degree Felony Plea: May 22, 2023 Not Guilty Disposition: December 11, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej) July 14, 2021 Charge 2 76-4-401(4)(A)(I) - ENTICE A MINOR BY INTERNET OR TEXT 2nd Degree Felony Plea: May 22, 2023 Not Guilty Disposition: December 11, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej) July 14, 2021 Charge 3 76-4-401(4)(A)(I) - ENTICE A MINOR BY INTERNET OR TEXT 2nd Degree Felony Plea: May 22, 2023 Not Guilty Disposition: December 11, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej) July 14, 2021 Charge 4 76-4-401(4)(B) - ENTICE A MINOR BY INTERNET OR TEXT 3rd Degree Felony Plea: December 11, 2023 Guilty Disposition: December 11, 2023 Guilty June 10, 2021 Charge 5 76-4-401(4)(B) - ENTICE A MINOR BY INTERNET OR TEXT 3rd Degree Felony Plea: December 11, 2023 Guilty Disposition: December 11, 2023 Guilty June 13, 2021 Charge 6 76-4-401(4)(B) - ENTICE A MINOR BY INTERNET OR TEXT 3rd Degree Felony Plea: May 22, 2023 Not Guilty Disposition: December 11, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej)

1246: Cole Carter

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John Cole Carter

John Cole Carter was a firefighter in Wetumka, Alabama. In June, 2023, he pleaded guilty to transmitting obscene material, possession of child pornography, second-degree sex abuse, electronic solicitation of a child, and enticing a child for immoral purposes.

The case began when one child’s father filed a complaint in May. Carter resigned from the Fire Department during the investigation.

Another victim came forward. The victims are now thirteen and fourteen.

Thanks so much to Beks, not just for highlighting this and many others but also for the evidence showing he is MAGA, since Alabama does not reveal voter registration.

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'BLACK EYE ON PUBLIC TRUST’ Former Wetumpka - Eclectic Observer, The (AL) - January 22, 2024 - page 1 January 22, 2024 | Eclectic Observer, The (AL) | Cliff Williams District Attorney C.J. Robinson hopes a guilty plea from John Cole Carter settles lots of questions in the public. The prosecutor hopes it is a relief to the 13- and 14-year old victims, their families and the general public as well. The former City of Wetumpka firefighter, Carter, 31, of Elmore, entered guilty pleas for five different criminal acts before 19th Circuit Court Judge Joy Booth Monday morning — transmitting obscene material, possession of child porngraphy, second-degree sex abuse, electronic solicitation of a child and enticing a child for immoral purposes. "The misinformation on this case has been more so than we normally have," Robinson said. "It is not all that uncommon when you have someone who works in public service, like a firefighter [charged with a crime]. There is a public trust there because those types of people are looking out for us." Charges of facilitating travel for child sex, transmitting obscene material to a child, one count of electronic solicitation of a child and a count of enticing a child were dropped as part of a plea agreement. Assistant district attorney Brittney Pinon proffered what prosecutors expected evidence to show if the case went to trial this week. She said Carter was in contact with two victims for the first six months of 2023 via phone, text and video. One victim even traveled to a Wetumpka Fire Department station and a family business. "They would grind upon one another and kiss," Pinon told Booth. This accounts for the second-degree sex abuse based on the victim's age. While the two victims were having a sleepover, Carter asked them to film sex acts in the shower. "They would transmit those videos to him," Pinon said. "There are videos of Mr. Carter in the shower video chatting with the 14-year-old where he is fully nude. He is masterbating on the phone with her for quite some time." Pinon said Carter asked about the victims fantasies to which one replied to have sex with a married man. "Carter responded, ''I can help check that off the list,'" Pinon said. Carter also encouraged the victims to start planning a future together, messaging they would be a couple when they turned 18. Carter resigned as a Wetumpka firefighter at the time of his arrest. The investigation into Carter started when a victim's father reported issues to the Wetumpka Police Department. Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton said the investigation started in June when the father of a child under 16 came and made a statement to investigators resulting in Carter's June arrest. Benton said the investigation revealed Carter used Snapchat to send messages to a child under the age of 16. Robinson said he doesn't expect the sentence to be at the maximum but does expect it to be more than the minimum 20 years. Either way it will be difficult. "Sentencing will be a hard day," Robinson said. "It will be a black eye on everybody. This is a black eye on public trust." Copyright © 2024 The Eclectic Observer, Boone Newspapers Inc., All rights reserved.

1233: Vance Peronto

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Vance Peronto was a state trooper in Alaska. He pulled over a sixteen-year-old girl for driving without her headlights on on April 8, 2018. He didn’t give her a ticket. Later on, he contacted her on social media and began grooming her. On April 26th, the Alaska State Troopers were informed by her father that Peronto had inappropriate contact with the teen.

So, when he arranged to meet her at a hotel for sex on April 29, 2018, he was unknowingly communicating with investigators. He was met by state troopers and the Anchorage police instead of the girl. He was arrested. The police report said Peronto had taken “a substantial step toward engaging in sexual penetration of a minor, while occupying a position of authority in relation to the minor.”

After a two week trial and two and a half days deliberation, a jury convicted him. He was sentenced to eight years in prison with four years suspended.

Text is here https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2023/12/28/former-alaska-state-trooper-sentenced-to-serve-4-years-for-attempted-sexual-abuse-of-a-minor/
Anchorage Daily News: Former Alaska State Trooper sentenced to serve 4 years for attempted sexual abuse of a minor

1225: Jose Saez, Jr.

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Jose Saez, Jr

Jose Saez, Jr. was the pastor at Iglesia Cristiana Alumbrando el Camino in Brentwood, New York, where he allegedly bragged about finding his victims. He is also the father of three children. The FBI received an online tip that he was sexually active with children. They investigated and executed a search warrant.

After a brief look at his cell phone, they arrested him for producing child sexual abuse material. Remember, the videos and pictures cannot be produced without abusing and exploiting children. The incidents that were brought to FBI attention allegedly happened between August 14th and his September 28, 2023 arrest. However, he is alleged to have produced child sexual abuse material with more than thirty children often by coercing them into producing videos and sending them to him.

He bragged about his crimes to an undercover officer. The charges against him include sexual exploitation of children, coercion and enticement of children, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

Pastor sexually abuses a baby and other kids in - Miami Herald, The (FL) - December 8, 2023 - page 1 December 8, 2023 | Miami Herald, The (FL) | Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald A pastor used his Long Island church to find children to sexually abuse, federal officials said. Jose Saez Jr., 28, faces an array of charges related to sex crimes against children and child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York said in a Dec. 6 news release. While he was a pastor at a church in Brentwood, New York, Saez used a messaging app called Telegram "to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors and with a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity," officials said. He told the undercover officer he used the church to find children to exploit and that he had sexually abused an infant, federal officials said. He also said children ages 11-15 were his "sweet spot," according to the attorney's office. McClatchy News could not immediately reach Saez's legal representatives for comment on Dec. 8. "When you go to church you expect to be safe and protected...but that's not what members of Pastor Jose Saez's congregation got," James Smith, FBI assistant director-in-charge, said in the release. "He allegedly possessed child pornography and sexually abused multiple children. This is unfathomable to the families and caused lasting harm to the children." A task force officer with the FBI searched Saez's phone Sept. 28 and found child pornography videos he had received from a high school student, the officer said in the criminal complaint. "I'm sorry that I cannot stop," Saez told the officer, according to the complaint. He was charged with eight counts related to sexual exploitation, coercion and child pornography in a Nov. 21 indictment. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison, officials said. He was arraigned Dec. 6 and pleaded not guilty, court records show. He was denied bail and is next scheduled to appear in court in January. Investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward and contact tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000. Sexual Assault RT hotline card Pastor sexually preyed on kid met on mission trip, then FBI found more victims, feds say Pastor who competed on ‘The Voice' stole identity of church member, Tennessee cops say Zaxby's hired sex offender as manager and he preyed on Florida teen workers, suit says Copyright (c) 2023 The Miami Herald

1190: Mike Bickle

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Mike Bickle

Mike Bickle is the dominionist founder of the International House of Prayer. An ardent Trump supporter, he said opposing Trump is “a demonic attack coming against the Word of God.” Funnily enough, he did not support Trump ardently enough to donate a dime, which, in my opinion, is a great example of a con recognizing a con. Despite his wealth, Bickle does not make political contributions at the state or federal level except one in 2008 to Mike Huckabee.

Three former leaders of International House of Prayer released a public statement on October 28th, 2023, that asked the organization to address the several long-standing allegations of sexual misconduct by Mike Bickle, what they referred to as the “collective and corroborating testimony of several victims.”

The three who released the public statement wrote they tried to address this internally but Bickle refused to meet them and took steps to harass and intimidate the women. They accuse him of sexual and spiritual abuse, taking advantage of his role as spiritual leader t manipulate the women.

Bickle preached a sermon on false allegations. But has now agreed to pause his work while an outside party investigates.

In February 2024, new allegations surfaced that accuse him of grooming and sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the 80s.

International House of Prayer-Kansas City’s founder faces allegations of misconduct October 28, 2023 | Kansas City Star, The (MO) Author/Byline: Judy L. Thomas, The Kansas City Star | Section: local 1654 Words | Readability: Lexile: 1550, grade level(s): >12 Read News Document The founder of the International House of Prayer of Kansas City, a 24/7 evangelical and missions organization, is facing serious allegations of misconduct, members of its leadership team told staff at a special meeting on Friday. Mike Bickle has led the organization since its founding in 1999. The leadership team did not provide details of the allegations or say who made them, nor did it say whether the allegations had been reported to authorities. “We have been made recently aware of allegations involving Mike,” IHOPKC executive director Stuart Greaves told staff members, according to a video of the meeting obtained by The Star. “And our leadership team is taking the situation very seriously…. Our primary concerns are those who are affected with pain and trauma, our spiritual family, of Mike and Diane, as well as the Bickle family.” A statement issued Saturday by three former IHOPKC leaders said the allegations involved sexual abuse by Bickle. “A few days ago, we made the leadership team of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC) aware of serious allegations spanning several decades concerning its founder, Mike Bickle,” the statement said, adding that they found “these allegations of clergy sexual abuse by Mike Bickle to be credible and long-standing.” The statement was issued by Dwayne Roberts and Brian Kim, former members of the IHOPKC executive leadership team, and Wes Martin, former pastor of Forerunner Christian Fellowship and former vice president of student affairs of IHOPU. Roberts was a founding member of IHOPKC and was in leadership there for 14 years before leaving to start the Florianópolis House of Prayer (FHOP) in the Brazilian nation. The men said that prior to meeting with IHOPKC leadership, they tried to bring the allegations and testimony of one alleged victim to Bickle. “However, we were repeatedly rebuffed by Mike Bickle and we were refused any sort of meeting,” the statement said. “Instead, Mike used manipulating and intimidating tactics towards the victims to isolate them and discredit them.” They said they met with several members of IHOPKC’s executive leadership team and shared testimonies of “these victims of Mike’s inappropriate words and actions.” “When these allegations were brought to our attention, we were shocked,” the statement said. “We could never have imagined that inappropriate conduct with women as something we would ever need to be concerned about. The allegations seemed out of character to the man we thought we knew, but they were so serious we could not ignore them.” The men said they believed Bickle’s actions “were not above reproach and fall short of biblical standards for leaders in the church.” “To be clear, the allegations made about Mike Bickle’s misconduct were sexual in nature where the marriage covenant was not honored,” the statement said. “Furthermore, the allegations made also reveal that Mike Bickle used his position of spiritual authority over the victims to manipulate them.” Bickle could not be reached for comment. Last weekend, the focus of his sermon was on false accusations. IHOPKC did not respond to emails or a calls seeking comment Saturday, and someone who answered the phone at a number listed on its website for “press inquiries” hung up after being asked if he was with the organization. With its headquarters on Red Bridge Road in south Kansas City, IHOPKC draws people from around the world to its university and round-the-clock “prayer room.” For years, it has come under criticism by ex-staffers and former followers who accuse it of being cult-like. Full-time staff raise their own support to work as full-time missionaries. About 2,000 staff, students and interns serve full-time, according to its website, “investing fifty hours per week, as they go from the prayer room to the classroom and then to ministry outreaches and works of service.” They’re also “spiritually equipping ourselves to prepare others for the unique dynamics of the generation in which the Lord returns,” the site says. IHOPKC made national headlines in 2012 after a follower was found dead in what was ruled a suicide. But after her funeral, a man came forward and said he’d killed her on the orders of her husband, who led a prayer group whose members lived together. The man was charged with first-degree murder, but later recanted and the charge was eventually dismissed. And in 2018, a staff member who led an internship program for those 50 and older was accused of sexually abusing a woman at a church in California in the mid-1980s when the accuser was a teen. At Friday’s meeting, David Sliker, a member of IHOPKC’s leadership team, declined to comment on the nature of the allegations against Bickle. “We know there’s lots of great questions to ask,” Sliker said. “In a time like this, you don’t want to feel like it’s not OK to ask questions. We just might not be able to answer all those questions at this time. And we hope that’s OK. Because there’s times like this where just careful, deliberate, slow answers can feel like secrecy. “…We’re just trying to say at the right time, with the right information, according to truth, as it’s clear to us. And so with that dynamic, our appeal to our community is for patience in the process.” Isaac Bennett, lead pastor at IHOPKC’s Forerunner Church, told staffers that “I know how difficult these announcements can be.” “Our hearts are breaking in the midst of this,” he said. “...We just want you to know we’re with you in the midst of this. And we really care about Jesus. And we really care about all those that are affected by this news.” Not everyone was satisfied with the leadership’s response. “I do not consider this an acceptable level of transparency,” said one man in attendance. “In a room full of faithful witnesses, being a faithful witness to my brothers, there is more to be shared, and what David just said is well-intended, righteous bull----.” “I second that!” one woman shouted. The man added: “I believe that you need to address this in a different way, with a great degree of transparency, or this is not going to be a trustworthy process.” Controversy is not new to IHOPKC. In 2012, a park ranger found follower Bethany Deaton, 27, dead in the backseat of a minivan at Longview Lake just weeks after her wedding, a white bag over her head and a pill bottle within reach. A week earlier, she had been temporarily admitted to Truman Medical Center after threatening suicide. But shortly after her funeral, Micah Moore walked into a police station and said he killed her, even though the death had been ruled a suicide. Moore was among a group of young people living together under the strict control of Bethany’s husband, Tyler Deaton. Most of the group, whose members allegedly used sex as part of their religious experience, had come to Kansas City to be part of IHOPKC. According to court documents, Moore said that he and other members of the group had engaged in a series of sexual assaults on Bethany Deaton. He later told detectives that Tyler Deaton told him to kill Bethany Deaton, “saying he knew Micah had it in him to do it.” IHOPKC quickly sought to distance itself from the Deaton group, calling it a cult, condemning its “disturbing religious practices” and saying it operated under a “veil of secrecy.” Moore recanted his confession after the murder charge was filed, saying it came as a result of an exorcism. In 2014, the murder charge was dropped. In 2018, IHOPKC was in the news again when a Washington woman went public with her story alleging that Brad Tebbutt, a missionary at IHOPKC, sexually abused her for 2 ½ years when she was a teen and he was a youth pastor at a Baptist church in Modesto, California. Jennifer Graves Roach, of Seattle, said she had reported the abuse to church leaders in California in 1988 but they told her to forgive and forget and never talk about it again. She later learned that Tebbutt had moved to Kansas City and was leading the Simeon Company Internship at the International House of Prayer. The internship was described as “a training experience and mentoring community for those 50 and older” who “desire to give their lives more fully to prayer, worship, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, outreach, and works of justice.” Roach contacted IHOPKC, asking how Tebbutt could continue in ministry after sexually abusing a minor. She received an email from an IHOPKC leader saying when Tebbutt started working there in 2013, he “did make us aware of the details around these events and did provide information of a psychologist practitioner with whom he completed an 18-month repentance and restoration process.” IHOPKC told The Star that it had placed Tebbutt on administrative leave while it looked into the allegations. It also hired an outside firm led by a grandson of the late Rev. Billy Graham to conduct an independent investigation. In May 2018, Roach filed a lawsuit against Tebbutt, First Baptist Church in Modesto and its successor, CrossPoint Community Church. She later dropped Tebbutt from the suit when he agreed to cooperate with the case. CrossPoint settled with Roach in 2019 for $267,500. IHOPKC issued a news release in April 2019 saying all investigations of Tebbutt had been completed. “The critical conclusion of the report is that no evidence of further incidents was discovered by the independent firm, nor has there been any evidence of further wrongdoing over the last 30+ years, including time spent at IHOPKC,” it said. The statement also said that during both the internal and external investigations, Tebbutt had “demonstrated genuine remorse and repentance over the clear moral failure committed at that time, as well as complete cooperation with the litigation. The injured realized that the accuser made a genuine apology and has genuinely forgiven him.” In June 2022, Tebbutt was listed as an alleged sexual abuser in a document released by Southern Baptist officials. When The Star asked if Tebbutt was still on staff at IHOPKC, it responded in an email, referring to Tebbutt as “one of our missionaries” and referring The Star to its April 2019 news release.
Kansas City Star
October 28, 2023
International House of Prayer-Kansas City’s founder faces allegations of misconduct October 28, 2023 | Kansas City Star, The (MO) Author/Byline: Judy L. Thomas, The Kansas City Star | Section: local 1654 Words | Readability: Lexile: 1550, grade level(s): >12 Read News Document The founder of the International House of Prayer of Kansas City, a 24/7 evangelical and missions organization, is facing serious allegations of misconduct, members of its leadership team told staff at a special meeting on Friday. Mike Bickle has led the organization since its founding in 1999. The leadership team did not provide details of the allegations or say who made them, nor did it say whether the allegations had been reported to authorities. “We have been made recently aware of allegations involving Mike,” IHOPKC executive director Stuart Greaves told staff members, according to a video of the meeting obtained by The Star. “And our leadership team is taking the situation very seriously…. Our primary concerns are those who are affected with pain and trauma, our spiritual family, of Mike and Diane, as well as the Bickle family.” A statement issued Saturday by three former IHOPKC leaders said the allegations involved sexual abuse by Bickle. “A few days ago, we made the leadership team of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC) aware of serious allegations spanning several decades concerning its founder, Mike Bickle,” the statement said, adding that they found “these allegations of clergy sexual abuse by Mike Bickle to be credible and long-standing.” The statement was issued by Dwayne Roberts and Brian Kim, former members of the IHOPKC executive leadership team, and Wes Martin, former pastor of Forerunner Christian Fellowship and former vice president of student affairs of IHOPU. Roberts was a founding member of IHOPKC and was in leadership there for 14 years before leaving to start the Florianópolis House of Prayer (FHOP) in the Brazilian nation. The men said that prior to meeting with IHOPKC leadership, they tried to bring the allegations and testimony of one alleged victim to Bickle. “However, we were repeatedly rebuffed by Mike Bickle and we were refused any sort of meeting,” the statement said. “Instead, Mike used manipulating and intimidating tactics towards the victims to isolate them and discredit them.” They said they met with several members of IHOPKC’s executive leadership team and shared testimonies of “these victims of Mike’s inappropriate words and actions.” “When these allegations were brought to our attention, we were shocked,” the statement said. “We could never have imagined that inappropriate conduct with women as something we would ever need to be concerned about. The allegations seemed out of character to the man we thought we knew, but they were so serious we could not ignore them.” The men said they believed Bickle’s actions “were not above reproach and fall short of biblical standards for leaders in the church.” “To be clear, the allegations made about Mike Bickle’s misconduct were sexual in nature where the marriage covenant was not honored,” the statement said. “Furthermore, the allegations made also reveal that Mike Bickle used his position of spiritual authority over the victims to manipulate them.” Bickle could not be reached for comment. Last weekend, the focus of his sermon was on false accusations. IHOPKC did not respond to emails or a calls seeking comment Saturday, and someone who answered the phone at a number listed on its website for “press inquiries” hung up after being asked if he was with the organization. With its headquarters on Red Bridge Road in south Kansas City, IHOPKC draws people from around the world to its university and round-the-clock “prayer room.” For years, it has come under criticism by ex-staffers and former followers who accuse it of being cult-like. Full-time staff raise their own support to work as full-time missionaries. About 2,000 staff, students and interns serve full-time, according to its website, “investing fifty hours per week, as they go from the prayer room to the classroom and then to ministry outreaches and works of service.” They’re also “spiritually equipping ourselves to prepare others for the unique dynamics of the generation in which the Lord returns,” the site says. IHOPKC made national headlines in 2012 after a follower was found dead in what was ruled a suicide. But after her funeral, a man came forward and said he’d killed her on the orders of her husband, who led a prayer group whose members lived together. The man was charged with first-degree murder, but later recanted and the charge was eventually dismissed. And in 2018, a staff member who led an internship program for those 50 and older was accused of sexually abusing a woman at a church in California in the mid-1980s when the accuser was a teen. At Friday’s meeting, David Sliker, a member of IHOPKC’s leadership team, declined to comment on the nature of the allegations against Bickle. “We know there’s lots of great questions to ask,” Sliker said. “In a time like this, you don’t want to feel like it’s not OK to ask questions. We just might not be able to answer all those questions at this time. And we hope that’s OK. Because there’s times like this where just careful, deliberate, slow answers can feel like secrecy. “…We’re just trying to say at the right time, with the right information, according to truth, as it’s clear to us. And so with that dynamic, our appeal to our community is for patience in the process.” Isaac Bennett, lead pastor at IHOPKC’s Forerunner Church, told staffers that “I know how difficult these announcements can be.” “Our hearts are breaking in the midst of this,” he said. “...We just want you to know we’re with you in the midst of this. And we really care about Jesus. And we really care about all those that are affected by this news.” Not everyone was satisfied with the leadership’s response. “I do not consider this an acceptable level of transparency,” said one man in attendance. “In a room full of faithful witnesses, being a faithful witness to my brothers, there is more to be shared, and what David just said is well-intended, righteous bull----.” “I second that!” one woman shouted. The man added: “I believe that you need to address this in a different way, with a great degree of transparency, or this is not going to be a trustworthy process.” Controversy is not new to IHOPKC. In 2012, a park ranger found follower Bethany Deaton, 27, dead in the backseat of a minivan at Longview Lake just weeks after her wedding, a white bag over her head and a pill bottle within reach. A week earlier, she had been temporarily admitted to Truman Medical Center after threatening suicide. But shortly after her funeral, Micah Moore walked into a police station and said he killed her, even though the death had been ruled a suicide. Moore was among a group of young people living together under the strict control of Bethany’s husband, Tyler Deaton. Most of the group, whose members allegedly used sex as part of their religious experience, had come to Kansas City to be part of IHOPKC. According to court documents, Moore said that he and other members of the group had engaged in a series of sexual assaults on Bethany Deaton. He later told detectives that Tyler Deaton told him to kill Bethany Deaton, “saying he knew Micah had it in him to do it.” IHOPKC quickly sought to distance itself from the Deaton group, calling it a cult, condemning its “disturbing religious practices” and saying it operated under a “veil of secrecy.” Moore recanted his confession after the murder charge was filed, saying it came as a result of an exorcism. In 2014, the murder charge was dropped. In 2018, IHOPKC was in the news again when a Washington woman went public with her story alleging that Brad Tebbutt, a missionary at IHOPKC, sexually abused her for 2 ½ years when she was a teen and he was a youth pastor at a Baptist church in Modesto, California. Jennifer Graves Roach, of Seattle, said she had reported the abuse to church leaders in California in 1988 but they told her to forgive and forget and never talk about it again. She later learned that Tebbutt had moved to Kansas City and was leading the Simeon Company Internship at the International House of Prayer. The internship was described as “a training experience and mentoring community for those 50 and older” who “desire to give their lives more fully to prayer, worship, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, outreach, and works of justice.” Roach contacted IHOPKC, asking how Tebbutt could continue in ministry after sexually abusing a minor. She received an email from an IHOPKC leader saying when Tebbutt started working there in 2013, he “did make us aware of the details around these events and did provide information of a psychologist practitioner with whom he completed an 18-month repentance and restoration process.” IHOPKC told The Star that it had placed Tebbutt on administrative leave while it looked into the allegations. It also hired an outside firm led by a grandson of the late Rev. Billy Graham to conduct an independent investigation. In May 2018, Roach filed a lawsuit against Tebbutt, First Baptist Church in Modesto and its successor, CrossPoint Community Church. She later dropped Tebbutt from the suit when he agreed to cooperate with the case. CrossPoint settled with Roach in 2019 for $267,500. IHOPKC issued a news release in April 2019 saying all investigations of Tebbutt had been completed. “The critical conclusion of the report is that no evidence of further incidents was discovered by the independent firm, nor has there been any evidence of further wrongdoing over the last 30+ years, including time spent at IHOPKC,” it said. The statement also said that during both the internal and external investigations, Tebbutt had “demonstrated genuine remorse and repentance over the clear moral failure committed at that time, as well as complete cooperation with the litigation. The injured realized that the accuser made a genuine apology and has genuinely forgiven him.” In June 2022, Tebbutt was listed as an alleged sexual abuser in a document released by Southern Baptist officials. When The Star asked if Tebbutt was still on staff at IHOPKC, it responded in an email, referring to Tebbutt as “one of our missionaries” and referring The Star to its April 2019 news release.

1180: Ronald Van Overloop

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Ronald Van Overloop

Ronald Van Overloop was the pastor at the anti-gay Grace Protestant Reformed Church in Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County, Michigan. He was also an influential leader in the Protestant Reformed Church with his sermons and articles featured in the denomination’s publications and websites.

He was accused of inappropriate communications and touching of several minor girls in his congregation over several years. In a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to one of the charges and was sentenced to forty-five days in jail.

Most of the complaints were past the statute of limitations, adult women describing his abused during their childhood that left them with guilt, shame, and trauma. One claimed to get panic attacks at church. They add described similar behavior, touching himself while touching them, having them sit on his lap, stroking their thighs, talking about sex with them, and giving them long, close hugs. They thought they would not be believed,

He denied their claims, his lawyer said they misunderstood his actions, made “a mountain out of a molehill,” and argued that his humiliation and loss of his pastoral position was more than enough punishment. The judge, aware that this deal applied to only one of several allegations, remarked that once could be a misunderstanding, but not when so many allegations are made. In a statement to the Court, Van Overloop said he was sorry for the harm to the church and said he had written apology letters to the church. No mention of apologizing to the women whom he molested when they were teens.

October 10, 2022 | Holland Sentinel, The (MI)
Author/Byline: Rachel Van Gilder
Former pastor jailed for abusing teen girl at - Holland Sentinel, The (MI) - October 10, 2022 - page 1 October 10, 2022 | Holland Sentinel, The (MI) | Rachel Van Gilder TALLMADGE TWP. — A former pastor at a church near Walker is serving jail time for inappropriately touching a teenage girl, one of several similar complaints against him, according to court records. Ronald VanOverloop, 73, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery and was sentenced to 45 days in the Ottawa County Jail and a $350 fine. Authorities say the abuse happened at the parsonage at Grace Protestant Reformed Church on Eighth Avenue NW near Lake Michigan Drive in Tallmadge Township between 2009 and 2012. It was reported in June 2021. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office says VanOverloop had inappropriate conversations with a teenage girl and touched her inappropriately. The victim is one of several who came forward. There were a number of allegations of VanOverloop inappropriately touching other teen girls, including long hugs, having them sit on his lap, kissing them and having inappropriate discussions about sex with them. One complainant said he touched her upper thigh. In one case, someone reported VanOverloop touching himself while talking to her. One complainant, now grown, said that for years, she avoided going to authorities because members of the church had been discouraged from reporting abuse, saying such complaints should be dealt with by the church. Another told investigators she was afraid no one would believe her if she said he was making her uncomfortable. The police report says that when the Grace Board of Elders asked VanOverloop about the allegations in the summer of 2021, he denied them. He was ultimately fired. VanOverloop was booked into the Ottawa County Jail on Sept. 8, the day he was sentenced. "…(I stood up) not only for myself, but for all the other girls and women who have been victimized by Mr. VanOverloop but are not able to find their justice or closure through the court system because of the statute of limitations," the victim said at the sentencing, according to a transcript. "Some of them endured much more than I did at the hands of this man." She said VanOverloop has not taken responsibility for his actions. "Mr. VanOverloop's denial of the pain and harm that he's caused and dragging this court case out for over nearly a year now has been devastating for myself and other women who were victimized by him," she said. "Rather than own up to what he has done and the harm he has caused, he maintains the accusations against him are false, or that situations were just misinterpreted…" VanOverloop's attorney Josh Kuiper supports that claim. "I don't want to minimize what her claim is, but here I think, to a certain extent, we're making a mountain out of a molehill," Kuiper told the court, according to the transcript. "These touches that happened, if it weren't for an announcement at church, I don't think anyone would have thought anything about them, that they were assaultive in nature." He argued that with VanOverloop's "public humiliation" and the loss of his job, he had suffered enough. The judge disagreed, saying that one report may have been the result of misinterpretation but reports from other victims showed a different story. Subscribe:Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage When given the chance to speak, VanOverloop said he had repeatedly apologized in letters to the elders of his church. "Every sin against God comes with a sense — a great sense of guilt and shame," he said, the transcript shows. "And I've carried that ever since this began." Copyright 2022, The Holland Sentinel, All Rights Reserved.

1170: Tom Wright

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Sen. Tom Wright

Tom Wright is a Florida State Senator representing Volusia and Brevard counties.

Several years ago, before he became a state senator, he volunteered at the shelter. When Hurricane Irma was heading their way, he paid for a bus to evacuate survivors and went on the bus with them. He spoke to one of the survivors, talking about topless women, sex workers, and offering to fly her to Las Vegas. When the director heard of this, she banned him from the facility. As senator, he made several allegations against the shelter including trafficking, drug use, and a conflict of interest. These allegations proved to be false.

Since then he has continued to disparage the shelter in public, resulting in loss of grants. The former ED resigned citing stress. The new ED was in her job less than a month when there was a new altercation with him.

In September, 2023, he insisted on a tour of the facility. The new ED, in the interest of protecting the women arranged a field trip so the tour would be of an empty facility but Wright learned of it and attempted to board the bus, ostensibly to talk to the driver. He was told he could not board to protect shelter survivors’ confidentiality. He became angry, confronted the ED and grabbed her shoulder, yelling into her face. He left before police arrived. The met him elsewhere and cited him for trespass.