JW charged regarding child pornography

by Listener 23 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

  • Listener
    Listener

    http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article39058014.html#1

    Church shouldn't have divulged child-porn suspect's alleged confession, attorney says

    Elders in the Jehovah’s Witnesses church violated the confidentiality of Steven Lindhorst of Paso Robles when they told police about an alleged confession he made regarding child pornography, according to a defense motion.

    Steven Martin Lindhorst, 51, of Paso Robles was arrested Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, on suspicion of committing a lewd act with a child under the age of 14, possession of child pornography and possession of explicit child pornography, as well as posting intimate photos of another without their consent. Original story »
    Steven Martin Lindhorst, 51, of Paso Robles was arrested Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, on suspicion of committing a lewd act with a child under the age of 14, possession of child pornography and possession of explicit child pornography, as well as posting intimate photos of another without their consent. Original story »
  • scratchme1010
    scratchme1010

    From the article:

    Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referenced Steven Lindhorst's membership as a Jehovah's Witness. Though he was a member when the alleged crimes occurred, he has since been disfellowshipped and, as a result, is no longer a member of the congregation.

    As if that's supposed to make the WT look better.

  • Dunedain
    Dunedain

    What a scumbag.

  • AudeSapere
    AudeSapere

    Damned if they do report, damned if they don't report.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman

    Elders in the Jehovah’s Witnesses church violated the confidentiality of....

    Very interesting and informative post, Listener! Thanks. The related article does not state all of the facts about what exactly those Elders said and did but only the accusation against such "Elders." Nevertheless, if it turns out to be true that the Elders revealed church confidential information (a confession) to the police, it would seem to me that it would destroy JW confession to the Elders for good and the seeking of spiritual help. Why would anyone want to come forward anymore? Even if these Elders acted on their own without the WTS, why should anyone risk taking a chance and confess? So, I am very skeptical to believe that the Elders in fact violated "church-penitent" confidentiality, but we will see if that actually happened. Please keep us posted if you hear anything more. And thanks again for this great post!

  • prologos
    prologos

    May be the solution could be in case somebody confesses to have them resign as jws, and let him or her go to the police. , but then if they de facto plead guilty, are they not sure to be sentenced at mandatory rates? and since the list that wt is supposed to have, might be based to a large extend on such confessions, and perhaps even unproven allegations, where would that lead, if wt, the courts published it?

  • Stuck in the middle37
    Stuck in the middle37

    Anytime I see the word or name Paso Robles it gets my attention I spent a lot of time in that part of California. I knew Steve when he lived in Sacramento early 90's I think. Last I heard of him he had moved to Atascadero which is about 10 or 11 miles south of Paso. He was a elder there I believe, maybe at some point even the P.O. I didn't know he had moved to Paso Robles or when.
    Steve was a (life of the party, center of attention, kind of guy) when you met him it was hard not to like him.
    When I saw his picture I didn't recognize him, it had been a long time, but the name rang a bell I ask my wife and she though it was him. I called a person ( jw) that knew him well. He said that was the name, he looked at the news story and said that was the same person. He then got mad at me, thought I was making fun or going to say something about Steve or the Organ. and hung up on me.

  • Nevuela
    Nevuela

    Paso Robles is my hometown! I spent the first twenty years of my life in and around it before moving out of SLO County (against my will).

  • Listener
    Listener

    Thanks Fisherman but the credit for picking up on the story goes to a JW on Youtube who posted a link to it to support the idea of clergy confidentiality.

    Nothings come of it yet, it is only a strategy of the defense party, pretty much like the JW org. uses it to their benefit in cases when they can.

  • jamiebowers
    jamiebowers

    In 2008 during the Gilbert Simental trial in California it was ruled that jws have no clergy privilege since confidentiality was not a priority. The elders do, after all, report confessed wrong doing to the Watch Tower. Here are a bunch of articles about this case.

    http://www.silentlambs.org/ElderprotectPedophile.htm

    This article from September 2015 says that Lindhirst admitted his crime and was sentenced to six years in prison. It doesn't mention the elders' reporting on him.

    http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article39062517.html

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit