Former elder sentenced for driving drunk and vehicular homicide

drwtsn32

I started a thread on this a few months back when it was first in the news. Well the former elder had his trial yesterday, plead guilty, and was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison.

Link to Story

This article doesn't specifically mention the fact that he used to be an elder, but it was brought to light in prior news articles. When I was a JW back in 2002, he was an active elder in my congregation. I found out he stopped being an elder a little over a year ago. I believe he probably stepped down after a prior drunk driving conviction in 2005.

drwtsn32

Here's an article that mentions he was a JW elder:

Link to story

Nathan Natas

Thanks for the foolow-up, Doc!

I'll bet Pleake is thinking that with Armageddon so close, his liberation from prison is close at hand.

Boy, is HE in for a surprise! If he gets out early, it will be for good behavior and will be granted by the same non-thocratic system that incarcerated him. Then, still in this "system of things," he will have to figure out what to do next. Probably over a beer.

nelly136

But when Pleake's mother -- one of seven character witnesses for the defense -- said they were dealing with a good person and it wasn't right the way Semmern's family had portrayed her son, the crowd erupted with gasps and shouts of "She's gone. She's gone," and "He killed her."

how were they sposed to portray him?

dont spose theres any transcripts of the court case online?

avidbiblereader

So sad for the family and also all the reproach on God,

abr

Scully

So sad for [...] all the reproach on God,

abr, would you mind clarifying the actual source of "the reproach on God" for us, please?

Is it the people who exposed this person, now convicted of vehicular homicide, of JW former elder history?

Or is it the JW former elder who was driving drunk and killed a young woman?

ValiantBoy

4 1/2 years for killing a young woman...how sad. I realize he is no longer an elder, but he was disciplined by the congregation at all? I know a few people who never killed anyone while they were drunk, yet they were disfellowshipped as drunkards (at least one sister was terribly depressed and was not allowed to see a therapist, thus she drank..she could not attend AA..she could not get any help..only punishment..it was one of the cases that made me never want to be a witness again.)

I also wonder how many of the character witnesses were witnesses?

Also, understandably, this woman's family will never want to talk to witnesses again..does this mean they are automatically doomed to destruction at armageddon? Yet, because this man carries the moniker "Jehovahs Witness" he'll get eternal life? uggh..I get so fed up sometimes

SWALKER

I think he got off way too light!!! Good man??? He had a drinking problem and kept on drinking and driving! Now a young person with their entire life ahead is DEAD...and he only gets 4 1/2 years?????????? Life apparently, is cheap these days.

Swalker

Stealth453

I'm with you Swalker. I think they should have stood him against the court house wall, and pink misted his drunk self all over the wall. Justice is NOW served.

Former elder sentenced for driving drunk and vehicular homicide

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