The Strong City post with current comments can be viewed here.

For a awhile the following comments were available:

From Diane:

Gabriel and Allasso,
I find both of your posts very interesting. You say you don’t judge others? I have seen many, many posts from the both of you on various websites that were not only judgemental but also condescending. In fact, Gabriel, I was offended by your remark in a post where you said “fallen humanity tends to be extremely dense when it comes to spiritual truths”. Just because I don’t follow YOUR God, I am dense? I am “fallen humanity”?? So I have to ask, who are you to judge??
I challenge you to a response to my post.

Then a reply from Gabriel:

Then I submitted a reply with the following (which was never posted):

I posted a comment awhile back to “A Line Drawn” in which I asked if those of us who don’t believe as you do could get posted as many of my comments never made it to the site. Gabriel responded that if I was truely seeking to understand my posts would be allowed. That is the reason for this comment. I am trying to understand some of the parts of your post.

You stated:
“What people don’t understand is how we live in our community, and that I would not question anyone else in our community either. I believe everything anyone tells me here. Why is this? Because everyone in Strong City always tells the truth, all of the time.”

Maybe there is something I don’t understand about your use of the term “truth” or perhaps I don’t understand the way your people speak, but in a heated post to Loraine from Hanifa titled “Open Letter To Lorraine Irwin” Hanifa stated:

“You imagine all manner of evil against us falsely. The Bible says “Blessed are ye” for this. You portray us/Esther’s choices as sick and despicable, but tell me, Lorraine, instead of training my children to heed the Voice of God that speaks to their heart, should I have rather taught them to parade themselves naked before the public eye in provocative and pornographic poses, prostituting themselves for the love of financial gain? or to use drugs and alcohol in order to “enjoy” life to the fullest? or to bring a baby into the world without the safety and protection of a God-given holy union in which to honor the child with stability?…”

Hanifa states “to bring a child into the world without the safety and protection of a God-given holy union in which to honor the child with stability”. Is that a lie/hypocrisy or am I misunderstanding her words? On the land, while Willow was still a child, Michael removed the unions and took her mother away from her father. From my observation of what you have written on your site, Willow’s mother was then married/consummated to Michael. Isn’t that exactly what Hanifa is referring to about the evilness of “the world”? To me, Hanifa’s words appear as a lie/hypocrisy that she/your community honors unions for the stability of the children. Please help me to understand.

Gabriel stated:
“As to posts of mine you have read in which you accuse me or Allasso of being judgmental, you may want to observe that your judgment of our being judgmental is, itself, a moral judgment on your part.  I suspect that if you will observe, objectively (if possible) those posts you mention, that neither of us have made unfounded conclusions on anything other than the clear statements and claims of others.  That is not judgment, but simply observation.”

Can you also do the same? You say “the world” condems you and hates you and rages against you, is this not the same as your comments to the rest of us? You accuse the rest of us not on your land and not believing as you do as perverted and ignorant and deluded. Isn’t that the exact  same as what you accuse the world of doing to you? Can you, as you state, observe objectively that people that speak out are not making unfounded conclusions but simply observations? Why is it one way when you do it but the opposite when others who you do not agree with do the same? Is the only reason you say this because you know that you have the truth? Don’t you think the rest of us feel the same way? I hope this helps you to realize we aren’t all evil as you would think, just as you want us to think of you. I don’t believe we are so different in that respect. You do not understand me, just as I do not understand you, but at least I am trying. I’m trying to learn about you whereas you have already made your judgment and decided there is nothing left to learn about me. That is where I think you have gone wrong for maybe if you stopped doing the things say you hate that “we” do to you, you might help others to know your truth.

After my I submitted my comment  and went back later to see if they had posted my comment I noticed that both Diane’s and Gabriel’s comments were removed.

Please leave any comments that you tried to submit  to this Strong City post in the comments below and feel free to discuss. I will not be moderating the comments other than to remove totally random spam posts and things like that. I know that the majority of people interested in the Strong City saga are responsible posters.

The Strong City post with current comments can be viewed here.

Please post removed or rejected comments in the comments section below.

The Strong City post with current comments can be viewed here.

Please post removed or rejected comments in the comments section below.

The original Strong City post with current comments can be found here.

Please post removed or rejected comments in the comments section below.

The Strong City post with current comments can be viewed here.

Please post removed or rejected comments in the comments section below.

The Strong City post with current comments can be viewed here.

Please post removed or rejected comments in the comments section below.

The Strong City post with current comments can be viewed here.

[UPDATE 4/21/09]
Today I was stumbling and came across a site talking about Rev. Phelps’, of the Westboro Baptist Church, “God Hates America” website. Yes, the same guy that pickets funerals of gay people and has the “God Gates Fags” website. As I was reading Rev Phelps’ site I was struck by the similarities between his words and Wayne’s. Being curious I posted the following comment to the above Strong City post. I KNOW they won’t post it, but I’m hoping they send an email.

I came across Rev. Phelps’, Westboro Baptist Church, “God Hates America” website. I was surprised at the similarities to many of Wayne’s posts. Questions: Do you condone Phelps’ actions and his words? Would you associate with that church? Would you defend them? Do they have the truth of God as you do?

The following Phelps excerpts: http://www.godhatesamerica.com/government.html

Wayne states:
I have committed no crime. No law was broken by me, just as Jesus broke no law; but I was crucified as he was. Public perception is a law unto itself, and it has no reason. This morning upon my bed the Father revealed to me that His judgment is going everywhere, and will reach into the holes and cracks of the earth. No one can escape this awesome heavenly coup d’etat. God has anointed me as a scandal, and I am esteemed as a sinner, just as was Jesus. This will bring mankind to its conclusion, and mankind will bring it to themselves.

Today millions worship Jesus, but they are almost stupid in regard to that worship. Was not Jesus a “self-proclaimed messiah”? The people read the New Testament and declare it as the Word of God, but do they not see that it was written by the followers of Jesus? Why do they not believe the writings of my followers, and call it the Word of God? They hardly recognize their own hypocrisy, and their own stupidity. Christians today use Jesus’ own words as proof that he was the Son of God; why do they not use my words in regard to me?

Phelps states:
Put whatever lying slant you want on it, you have arrested us and put us on trial for one thing, and one thing only — standing on a street corner preaching to you God’s Truth. We don’t commit crimes and you know it! God has warned you against persecuting his people! 1 Chronicles 16:21-22 & Psalms 105:14-15: “He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” Jesus Christ said: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

In typical fashion, however, you use the tyrant’s tool to try and stop us — the courts and prisons. Guess what? It won’t work. Your spiritual forefathers tried it before you, and it didn’t work. You can pass new laws against us, and they won’t work. We knew this was coming, because Christ told us! If you knew a stitch of Scripture, you’d know it, too. “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city” (Matt. 23:34).

Wayne states:
The last and seventh plague poured out, tells that the cities fall. There are many bankruptcies. Then a great hail falls, “sweeping away the refuge of falsehood.” We are now seeing some of this with the money. Our money never was money; that was a falsehood. We only had debt. There was a lie that America had freedom of religion; this has now also been proven to be a hoax. People in Saudi Arabia go to jail if they offend the religious leaders, and so have I. Christians are jailed there. I am in prison because the American mullahs are angry at me. Even though I have not broken a law, they feel I should go to jail anyway. The American Taliban came for me, seeking to eradicate my religion. If this were to happen in China, the Americans would speak to China about civil rights violations. But since it happened in America, no one seems to notice when I was taken to prison for nothing immoral, but only for doing what I said God had instructed me to do. The two young ladies acted out what they testified God told them to do. Truly this is exposing the mighty hypocrisy of America. [/quote]

Phelps states:
Let My People Go. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.” (Ex 8:1). That message to Pharaoh is applicable to you, too, America. While your bumbling leaders pound their fists about Chinese human rights violations and attempt to force the “wonders of Democracy” down the throats of Middle Easterners, they “frame mischief by a law” (Ps 94:20), shredding the 1st Amendment to attempt and silence WBC. Hear the Word of the LORD, america, Let my people go! Every move you make to try and stop us from preaching only speeds you toward your ultimate doom and brings more pain and woe upon you now. Why do you think your sniveling brats come home in body bags from Iraq? Why do you think your college students are afraid to go to their campuses? Why do you think shooters open fire in malls? We’re telling you why! God sent them!

You both speak of God speaking to you about your outcomes. Do you believe that Rev. Phelps shares the same communication with Father as you do? If so, do you share the same spirit?

There was a lot more similarities I wanted to point out but the comment form only allows so many characters.

Please post removed or rejected comments in the comments section below.

Donald Gallegos mp3

In a phone interview with Beyond90Seconds.com this morning, District Attorney Donald Gallegos said it’s possible the criminal case against controversial church leader Wayne Bent may not take place this year.  Pressed for a prediction, Gallegos said he feels that there is a “50/50″ chance the trial will get underway in 2008.

Donald Gallegos iTunes

If the Bent trial is pushed to 2009, expect a new judge to be assigned to the case.  Learn the reason why in the Beyond90Seconds.com podcast interview with Gallegos.

While Gallegos explained that he could not discuss specifics concerning the State’s case against Wayne Bent (yes, that certainly includes evidence), he did provide several insights into the legal process, especially factors that could affect a trial date.

Gallegos stressed that the State is ready to go to trial and that the alleged victims are ready, too.

On May 20, a grand jury indicted Bent on four counts: two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the second degree, unclothed. And two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

TODAY’S *PODCAST (Total run time is 12:39)

*In my introductory remarks in today’s podcast, I reference the British documentary, The End of the World Cult.  If you’d like to watch it, you may do so below:

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Update:  (July 23): Attorney:  Don’t fringe on religeous freedom (The Raton Range)

The Raton Range delivers excellent coverage of Wayne Bent’s July 18 arraignment.  The newspaper launches into the story with this lead paragraph:

The attorney for the leader of what many people refer to as a cult that maintains its compound northeast of Des Moines told a judge in Raton Friday that Wayne Bent’s practice of lying with naked children is a “religeous healing practice” and has no sexual connotations. -The Raton Range

NEW (July 21): DA: Bent has “50/50″ chance of 2008 trial date (includes PODCAST with DA Donald Gallegos)

NEW (July 18 news story) : koat.com *VIDEO* from inside the courtroom:

(Update: July 18, 4:15pm PST) Earlier this afternoon, some of you e-mailed me to ask if Wayne Bent was in custody.  In my effort to track down an answer to that question, I ultimately spoke with someone who should know the answer:  Sgt. Bobbie Long of the Clayton Police Department.

Long is very familiar with the city/county holding cells where Bent would be held “if” he were in custody.  In fact, this is the same facility that held Bent in early May.

Based on my conversation with Sgt. Long, it does not appear Bent is in custody.  Long had several interesting things to say. And she allowed me to record our phone conservation for the purpose of the podcast you will find in the following mp3:

Sgt. Bobbie Long (mp3)

I imagine it’s possible that new and more precise information about the case has hit the wires & news Web sites since I began working on this podcast earlier this afternoon. Any corrections, clarifications and updates will be provided here after I get a chance to scour the news Web sites.

(Update, July 18, 2:17pm PST) I’ve attempted to reach Wayne Bent’s attorney, Sarah Montoya, for comment on this story.  Montoya’s colleague, DJ Martinez, explained that Montoya has left the office due to an urgent family matter.

(Update, July 18, 1:51pm PST) Court Document:  Arraignment Order and Conditions of Release

Page 1

Page 2

(Update, July 18,  1:38pm PST) Listen to Union County Court’s Deputy Clerk Karen Vieites read Wayne Bent’s conditions of release conditions of release.

Still more to come…

(Update, July 18, 1:27pm PST) Bent’s bond: $150,000 “unsecured”.  I also have the conditions of release…will publish here shortly.  Plus more.

Please stay tuned.

(Update, July 18, 1:11pm PST) Still don’t have the “nuts and bolts” concerning what happened at this morning’s arraignment.  State’s lead investigator on the Bent case, Dave Oliphant, has just told me that any specifics about Wayne Bent’s arraignment must come from District Attorney Donald Gallegos.

Person answering phone at Mr. Gallegos’s office tells me Mr. Gallegos is out of the office and won’t be back until Monday.  I do, however, have a cell number for Mr. Gallegos.  I’ve left a voice mail on Mr. Gallegos’s cell number requesting a return call regarding the Bent arraignment.

Lead investigator Oliphant was able to share with me that Senior Trial Prosecutor Amelio Chavez filled-in this morning for an ailing Assistant District Attorney Thomas Benavitez.

Oliphant also shared that Mr. Bent was represented by public defender Sarah Montoya.

Please stay tuned….
(Update, July 18, 12:21pm PST) Still working to get the details of this morning’s arraignment.  I’ve been in contact with District Courts in Union and Colfax counties.  I’m also waiting to hear back from person with the DA’s office.

Employee at clerk’s office in Raton (Colfax County) explained that the information is not in their local system and must be forwarded by Judge Gerald E. Baca to Union County Courthouse (Clayton).  Apparently, the judge hasn’t done this yet and is presently on the bench hearing other cases. Judge is expected to be on the bench throughout this afternoon.  A very busy Friday for the judge, no doubt.

Deputy Clerk at Union County Courthouse says she has yet to receive word from Raton concerning outcome of today’s arraignment.

Hoping to make contact with DA person soon.  He’s been en route from Raton to Clayton since the conclusion of this morning’s arraignment.

Please stay tuned…

(July 18, 10:22am PST) An employee in the Clerk’s Office at the State District Courthouse in Raton, New Mexico confirms that this morning’s arraignment of church leader Wayne Bent has concluded.

Employee did not have information concerning the outcome of the arraignment.

Please stay tuned…

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Update: (July 18 ) Judge sets Wayne Bent’s bond at $150,000

(July 17)  If you’ve spent time following any criminal or civil case, you know it’s not uncommon for court dates to change.  But a a check with New Mexico’s Union County District Court Clerk this morning confirmed that controversial church leader Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser) is still scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow (Friday) at 10:30am in Raton.

In May, a grand jury indicted Bent on two counts of second-degree sexual contact with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

This case could get even more interesting tomorrow as Bent recently proclaimed his vow of silence. In a July 1 post on his Web site, Bent wrote:

I will write no more, speak no more, or listen to you no more.  Not until the children are released from their prisons will you ever hear from me or us again.

Soon after his vow of silence, Bent and his followers took their Web site (Strongcity.info) off-line. Members of the church also took down their videos and posts that had been on myspace and youtube.

Bent’s resolve–as declared in that July 1 post–appeared unwavering:

Go ahead and charge me with contempt.  When you prove yourself not contemptible I will speak with you, but now the God of heaven holds you in contempt, for your deeds are exceedingly evil and grossly perverted.

On this arraignment eve (a hearing that is also scheduled to address Bent’s conditions of release), one must wonder if Bent will speak in court tomorrow.  That’s assuming he appears.

It could all make for an interesting hearing Friday before Judge Gerald E. Baca.

NO CONFIRMATION THAT STATE RETURNED “HEALED” TO PARENTS

Beyond90Seconds.com has received an unconfirmed report that the State of New Mexico has returned 16-year-old Lakeisha Sayer (aka “Healed”) to her parents.  State Police removed the teenager from Bent’s “Strong City” church property on April 22.

A source tells me that Lakeisha Sayer was returned to John and Elsa Sayer on Monday, July 14 following a court decision in Raton late last week.

Hoping to confirm the report, I called the Union County Courthouse this morning.  A court employee told me she could not comment about the matter because the case is sequestered.

Finally, I have two additional legal document to share with you.  As many of you know, two judges had been excused from this case.  I’m posting the Notice of Excusals for Judge John M. Paternoster and Judge Sam B. Sanchez below (both are dated May 21):

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Update: (July 18 ) Judge sets Wayne Bent’s bond at $150,000

(At about 12:30pm PST on July 10, Beyond90Seconds.com first reported that an arraignment date had just been set for the Wayne Bent case.  Less than an hour later, the arraignment date had been rescheduled.  This story has been updated to include the new arraignment date.)

At 1:04pm PST Beyond90Seconds.com leaned that the arraignment date for the Wayne Bent case has been changed.

Union County District Court Clerk Karen Vieites reports that the arraignment is now scheduled for Friday,  July 18 at 10:30am in Raton.

Earlier today, the arraignment date had been set for July 14 in Clayton.  Again, the date has been changed to July 18 in Raton.

On May 20, a grand jury indicted Bent on four counts: two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the second degree, unclothed. And two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Judge Gerald E. Baca will preside over the July 18 arraignment. The hearing is also scheduled to address Bent’s conditions of release.

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(Update: July 10):  Arraignment date set for Wayne Bent

(Updated; July 8, 8:18pm PST.)

Beyond90Seconds.com has learned that the New Mexico Supreme Court has assigned Judge Gerald E. Baca to preside over “all matters” concerning the State’s case against controversial church leader Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser).

Judge Baca presides in the Fourth Judicial District in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The court’s decision comes in an Order Designating Judge obtained by Beyond90Seconds.com.  The document is dated June 25 and was filed in District Court July 2.

New Mexico State Police arrested Bent May 6 and charged him with three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

In its Arrest Warrant Affidavit, the State named three alleged victims of criminal sexual contact. Two weeks later, a grand jury indicted Bent on two counts of second-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The grand jury indictment listed two alleged female victims.

On June 17, a 13-year-old girl named Willow was released from State custody. A post on Bent’s Web site stated that “the case for Willow Dawn Travesser was dismissed by the State of New Mexico.”

Willow was allowed to return to her parents and the church’s property known as Strong City.

According to the Associated Press, Willow was not one of the two alleged victims named in the grand jury indictment.

Union County District Court Clerk Karen Vieites tells Beyond90Seconds.com that a trial date in the Bent case has yet to be scheduled. Vieites said no proceedings (e.g., appearances, hearings) have been scheduled in Bent’s case so far.  Not surprising, as the State’s Supreme Court assigned the case to Judge Baca just 14 days ago.

Update:  July 9, 1:11pm PST

Because the text in two of the pdf files in the above story is less-than-sharp, I’ve decided to make some of those pages available here as jpg images.  Text quality should be better here.

(Please click images for access to larger views.)

Order Designating Judge

Page 1: Order Designating Judge

Page 2: Order Designating Judge

Arrest Warrant Affidavit

Page 1: Arrest Warrant Affidavit

Page 2: Arrest Warrant Affidavit

Page 3: Arrest Warrant Affidavit

Page 4: Arrest Warrant Affidavit

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The leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church writes that he will no longer write or speak to people outside of his flock until two teens are returned to his church.

Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser) takes this latest stand in his July 1 post on his church’s Web site.  In all, 5,474 words appear beneath the headline, Healed and Michael Speak for the Last Time.

Bent remains indicted by a grand jury for allegedly having committed second-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor.  Charges involving a previously alleged second victim have been dropped.

After reading the first 3,596 words of Bent’s July 1 post, one discovers the following pronouncement:

I will write no more, speak no more, or listen to you no more.  Not until the children are released from their prisons will you ever hear from me or us again.

According to his Web site, New Mexico’s Children, Youth & Families Department decided yesterday that a 16-year-old girl taken from the property April 22 will not be allowed to return at this time.

Two other teens were subsequently taken from the church.  A teenage boy has been returned to his parents.  Bent maintains the boy is not happy and wishes to return to the church property.

A 13-year-old girl, “Willow”, has returned to her parents and Strong City.

The 16-year-old girl removed from Strong City April 22 goes by the name of “Healed”.  Bent’s July 1 post includes the text of what is purported to be a “draft” letter written by “Lakeisha R. Sayer AKA Healed”.

That letter includes the following excerpt:

I have told people over and over again that Michael did NOT sexually abuse me, use me, coerce me, touch me inappropriately, or force me to submit to him. Everything he did or does, was and is at my request and desire. It was pure, heavenly and undefiled by any perversions or human lusts or sexual desires.  It was purely of God, and it was all legal.

Bent immediately follows-up the letter with this excerpt:

She (Healed) also went on to say to us that she was including these thoughts:  I am NOT a victim, and I will not take the witness stand and testify that I am. I will not let you use me to testify for you against Michael. He did not molest me or even touch me sexually in any way.

At the outset of his final post, Bent maintains that Healed would be better protected at his church property than elsewhere, stating:

If this young woman was now willing to give up her love for God and Michael and go along with the pornography and screwing around with their boyfriends that most young women do in these days, and that which is common to her natural world, I can promise you she would not be in CYFD custody.

Bent rounds-out his post with numerous paragraphs (mostly “adapted” scripture) proclaiming his curses for the world, including:

Because you have refused to return my children, or let them speak with us, but instead keep them in your prisons, “…all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in your place of work.  …Cursed shall be your children, and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your cattle, and the young of your flock. …The Lord will send upon you curses, confusion, and frustration, in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly, on account of the evil of your doings, because you have forsaken me [and thought to keep my children from me].

Who, exactly, is Bent writing to?  He explains it this way:

My comments here encompass the entire population and not just certain people.

And what about his declaration of silence?  Will it carry over to court proceedings? The answer appears to be a definitive,”Yes”:

Go ahead and charge me with contempt.  When you prove yourself not contemptible I will speak with you, but now the God of heaven holds you in contempt, for your deeds are exceedingly evil and grossly perverted.

Bent’s flock appears to have imposed a declaration of silence, too. A vast number of videos posted by LOR members on Web sites such as youtube and myspace have been taken down.

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Update (July 17): This is a second version of the Strong City video concerning Willow’s return home.  It runs 3:35, just over a minute longer than the earlier version:

Update (June 18): The following video of Willow’s return to the Strong City church property in northeastern New Mexico was posted on youtube today (runs 2:42):

done

(June 17, 10:41am PST) From the Web site of The Lord Our Righteousness church leader Wayne Bent:

At 10:32 A.M. today, Tuesday June 17th, the case for Willow Dawn Travesser was dismissed by the State of New Mexico, and Willow was released out of State custody back to her parents. She is on her way home now, and will come to Strong City for a meal with the family. My fast will end today when I see her face.

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Update: (June 17, 10:41am PST):  Bent’s Web site:  “New Mexico returns Willow“

Update (June 13, 12:22pm PST): I have decided to keep the comment sections on the Wayne Bent stories closed. If you’d like an explanation, you may read one here.

Commentary

With the hit-counter on this blog soaring (by its humble standards) this afternoon, one might wonder why I’ve just snuffed a primary source of its fuel supply.

For the unacquainted, allow me to first explain that two sides of a controversial story making national headlines recently converged in the comment sections of this blog (*as they have on several other blogs). I’m referring to the Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser) story. Bent is the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church in northeastern New Mexico. A grand jury indicted Bent last month, charging him with crimes against children. Bent’s son posted his bond (a reader of this blog, “Terry,” reports that the bond money has been returned to the Bents).

You can learn more about the case in stories written on this blog (and the comments from readers). A Google search will also yield many other useful links, to include two Web sites with opposing viewpoints: Wayne Bent’s site strongcity.info and former church member Prudence Welch’s site, travesser.info.

Both Bent and Welch have left comments here. Welch also agreed to an interview.

On June 8th, I suspended the comments on all of the Wayne Bent stories. Simply put, personal attacks were appearing with increasing frequency.

A few readers from both sides of the debate wrote to me, asking that I re-open the comment sections. I agreed to do so. I do value input from readers, and I have appreciated that members of two sides of a controversial–and important–story felt comfortable coming to the same blog.

I have also noted that many of your comments have provided new insights into the story at hand. Much of what readers have written here has also been skillfully and thoughtfully crafted.

Today, the comments were coming in so quickly I found it challenging to keep up with them and the e-mails from readers expressing their disapproval that certain comments had already survived 15-minutes on this blog without my having extinguished the unwelcome verbiage. “Inappropriate,” some argued, as well as, “crosses the line,” etc.

I just know I couldn’t be an effective referee while the comments were pouring in at such a fast rate; thus, my decision–once again–to suspend the comments on these threads. A “time out,” if you will.

As for the standard I have set for your comments (no personal attacks), some have suggested that I have set an unobtainable goal. Perhaps they’re right.

However, I would like to read how you feel about this topic. Should the comments remain open or closed? Why? Why not?

(Deep breath) Okay, here we go…

(*edit: information about two-sides appearing on several other blogs added after original version of this story appeared)

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Update (June 8, 10:50am PST): I received a brief e-mail from Wayne Bent this morning. Bent wrote, “About 40 people have joined me in the present fast.“

One day after The Lord Our Righteousness church leader Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser) announced that he is fasting until a girl is returned to her parents, some interesting responses have arrived at Beyond90Seconds.com.

Dean Cline (former husband of Amana Travesser and stepfather of former church member Prudence Welch) sent me the following e-mail (published here–unedited–with Cline’s permission):

Dear Mark,

Thank you for giving us, at strong city, a forum that has not tried to spin what has transpired.
Perhaps I should identify myself first. My legal name is Dean Cline and I am the ex husband of Amana Travesser, mother of Prudence Welch. I to am a member of the LOR church but have not been actively participating on the church site so am now unable to contribute my support for Michael, in his fast, on that site. I do want to let it be publicly acknowledged that I am in full agreement with Michael and will not eat until there is resolution.
Thank you for posting this on your site.
Seth
aka Dean Cline

Other members of Bent’s church have reportedly pledged to join him in fasting, too.

Last month, a New Mexico grand jury indicted Wayne Bent on four charges: Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the second degree, unclothed. And two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

One of the alleged victims is believed to be the girl whom Bent says should be returned to her parents; thus, prompting his decision to fast.

In a comment posted overnight on Beyond90Seconds.com, Bent writes:

I am protesting the illegal imprisonment of a young lady who did nothing wrong.

Bent’s entire comment can be read here.

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It’s nearly a month-old, but what is purported to be an unedited (and never-before-heard) audio recording of a television interview with Jeff Bent popped-up on StrongCity.info this morning. According to the Web site, the interview had been taped May 9th for ABC’s Good Morning America.

But the interview never appeared on GMA. More on that in a moment.

The recording that appears here (please hover pointer over photo at left for player) is used with Jeff Bent’s permission.

Jeff Bent is the son of the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser).

In a story Beyond90Seconds.com broke May 20th, a New Mexico grand jury indicted Wayne Bent on four charges: Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the second degree, unclothed. And two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

This morning, I sent an e-mail to Wayne Bent and requested permission to publish the recording on this blog. My e-mail also included the following questions:

1) Did GMA ever broadcast the interview w/Jeff? If not, do you know why?
2) Was it an on-camera interview (as it would appear to have been)?
3) Was the producer (if that is the correct title) who is heard questioning Jeff aware that a representative of your church was also recording the interview?
4) Did your church record the interview as a safeguard to ensure that any presentation of a GMA/ABC story based on this interview was accurately presented?

Wayne Bent referred me to his son.

I received an e-mail from Jeff Bent a bit later this morning. He gave me permission to use the recording.

In his e-mail, Jeff Bent also answered the questions I had first posed to his father. I asked Jeff Bent for his permission to share excerpts of that e-mail here. He has obliged.

Here is most of what Jeff Bent wrote to me this morning:

GMA never broadcasted the interview. The interview took place at 4:20 AM and was initially to be broadcast live on GMA. There was a satellite truck parked outside my house with a live uplink to GMA. Inside my house was a camera crew from Denver, who operated the camera, lighting, and sound equipment. The producer sat across from me. GMA cut away to the story of tornadoes in the midwest, and so the producer said she would ask the questions and the interview would be used later in the broadcast. At the end of the interview, the producer told me she would be taking the video tape back to New York with her and it would be used at a later time.

On Saturday, May 10, the producer emailed me and said my interview would be broadcast the following Monday on GMA. It wasn’t broadcast. The producer explained a couple of weeks later that since I had bailed my father out of jail, the interview had become dated.

This article was posted on the ABC News website and was based upon the interview I gave to GMA…

After the interview we informed the producer that the interview was recorded (Producer is her title, she said she is not a reporter). She did not object or express any reservations about it. The digital recorder was sitting on the counter-top next to where she was seated and in plain site.

Our motives for recording were simply to provide a record of the event, and to provide an opportunity for others in the land to listen to what was said. All news outlets spin the story in a way that will get ratings, and if we didn’t want that to happen, we wouldn’t speak to them at all.

*editor’s note: It’s my hope that Beyond90Seconds.com hasn’t “spun” this story to get ratings (more accurately, readers). The intent here is to be fair. Perhaps the slogan should be, “So fair, I’m boring!“)

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On his church’s Web site, Wayne Bent has posted his thoughts concerning this week’s Grand Jury indictment charging him with two counts of second-degree sexual contact with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

In his 30-paragraph-long post, titled Modern Day Witch’s Brew, Bent gives his side of the story and reveals the circumstances which he purports to have unfolded in the commission of the alleged crimes. Clearly, he is maintaining his innocence.

Here are excerpts from Bent’s post:

Will a father be indicted now for incest because his little naked girl runs and jumps into his bed on Sunday morning? Will all massage therapists who only use a sheet to cover the private parts, now be arrested for touching the naked body of the minor who is being massaged? Will a mother be indicted because her naked baby is sucking on her breast, which would be the “intentional causing of a minor to touch one’s intimate parts,” and the mother is enjoying it? Will a mother and father now be indicted because their underaged child is being bathed by them in the nude? Will nurses now be indicted for criminal sexual contact because they are taking care of young naked boys in a hospital room or taking their temperature with a rectal thermometer (“rape including sodomy, any sexual penetration with an object?”) Will mothers now be indicted because a baby is allowed to come through her sexual parts, and spend time there? Will all free women need to have a cesarean operation or be guilty of criminal sexual contact with a minor when the child is born? Will the doctor be indicted who sticks his finger into a minor who is having a baby, in order to check her? I doubt that there will be indictments against most people, because they are not the Sons of God. It will be only the anointed ones, who feel the wrath of the dragon.

In another excerpt, Bent writes:

I would rather die than live any longer in this wicked world of lying, prejudice, persecution, and dark vile sensuality.

And a bit later:

I am ready to be offered, and ready to go. I am so homesick for the songs of the angels and the consciousness of only my Father and those who are in love with Him, and I want to take all of my children with me. We must leave this world behind, or we would spiritually die as the wicked are spiritually dead.

Wayne Bent’s post can be read in its entirety here.

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(Beyond90Seconds.com broke this story)

(Clayton, New Mexico) Union County District Court Clerk Karen Vieites tells Beyond90Seconds.com that a Grand Jury indicted Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser) today on four counts.

“Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the second degree, unclothed. And two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor,” Vieites told Beyond90Second.com shortly after 5pm.

According to Vieites, the Grand Jury began to hear the State’s case against Wayne Bent at 10am today and finished around 5pm. Vieites said that jurors only recessed for a 30-minute lunch

New Mexico State Police arrested Bent the morning of May 6 at The Lord Our Righteousness Church. The LOR is located in a remote area known as “Strong City” in the northeast corner of the state.

On May 8th, Bent’s son, Jeff Bent, appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live. King’s panel included former LOR member Prudence Welch. During the program, Jeff Bent said his father would not post bond.

Jeff Bent posted his father’s bond the following day, after an ambulance was sent to the jail. A judge had reduced Wayne Bent’s bond from $500,000 to $55,000.

On May 10th, Wayne Bent wrote about his experiences in jail and the charges he faced.

Just yesterday, a new post on the church’s Web site included 22 letters written in defense of Wayne Bent’s character and conduct. According to that post, the church delivered the letters to the District Attorney yesterday and requested that the letters be read to the Grand Jury.

No word yet on whether the letters were presented to the Grand Jury.

The Union County Courthouse is one of several courthouses in New Mexico’s 8th Judicial District.

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Update: Read the Associated Press story here (May 21)

District Attorney Donald Gallegos said he made the decision to pursue indictments — shifting the case to district court — to avoid an open preliminary hearing in magistrate court in which the girls could have been subjected to cross-examination by Bent’s attorney. -Associated Press

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COMMENTARY

23 carefully thought-out letters were reportedly handed over to a New Mexico District Attorney Monday along with a request that they all be read to a Grand Jury Tuesday.

The letters were written by members of The Lord Our Righteousness Church defending the character–and proclaiming the innocence– of their leader, Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser).

Bent is charged with three counts of sexual contact of a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to The LOR’s Web site Monday:

…(the letters) were delivered to the district attorney today, along with a request that he read them before the grand jury tomorrow, in accordance with Wayne Bent / Michael Travesser’s Constitutional right to present a defense on his behalf.

Yes, Wayne Bent is certainly entitled to “a defense on his behalf.” However, that typically comes at trial (if there is to be one).

A Grand Jury’s mission is to consider whether the State has presented sufficient evidence for a trial.

That’s it.

It’s often argued that the Grand Jury process severely favors the prosecution (thus, the ol’ “ham sandwich” line).

Doesn’t seem to be in the State’s interest to be reading letters defending their suspect.

Please stay tuned…

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