2 Mar 2009
Bakersfield man says preacher beat his son with a paddle
KGET News17 NBC - California February 27, 2009
A Bakersfield man called 17 News after he says a local preacher paddled his son.
Those allegations led to the District Attorney's Office's filing charges against the church leader.
God-Worthy Ministries is the church where one father says his son was beaten with a paddle.
The church leader already faces a child abuse charge, but Joey Sepulveda says he still wants to warn other parents.
"I actually did witness a girl being spanked and it turned my stomach," said Sepulveda.
Sepulveda says his stomach turned even tighter when he learned his son was also beaten by a local church leader four months ago.
The Bakersfield father says the bishop at the church he used to attend disciplined his son, and without his permission.
"I was furious,'' he said. ''A lot can happen when someone does that to your child."
Sepulveda says Bishop Donald Anthony Towns paddles children and women in front of the church body as he reads
scripture.
Sepulveda says the last time Bishop Towns hit his son, he struck him at least 12 times with a paddle and left the child with bruises and marks.
We went the Bishop's home and his church but could not reach him today.
Court records show the district attorney's office filed a misdemeanor charge of willful cruelty to a child after the Sheriff's Department investigated.
"We received allegations in September of 2008, and we began investigating Mr. Towns,'' said Senior Deputy Michael Whorf. ''That investigation lasted until December of 2008."
On Thursday, Bishop Towns pleaded *not guilty to the misdemeanor charge.
But Joey Sepulveda says he wants to see Bishop Towns behind bars and the doors closed at God-Worthy Ministries.
"This is a sad thing because this isn't how Christianity should be, and it makes Christians look bad."
This article was found at:
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/Local-man-says-preacher-beat-his-son-with-a-paddle/lCAlD_Hw5EiLmHm2tgyCcw.cspx
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Well here I am 2021 years later talking to some friends about this incident. It is very frustrating to think that a man can behave this way without and our system as the D.A. put it to me , "I can honestly say , that we aren't going to be able to do anything to him because of it being a religious matter".
ReplyDeleteIt just goes to show that the system is not one that works on reality but on what looks good on paper and makes them look good in the view of the public. In this case it just didn't have any reward for them. It is clear to me now, after hearing stories, that are about the things that happen to people regarding their children, we are better off on our own. Today , it's business as usual there at that church. It does seem to have changed for the better in some ways , but the after math of everything as far as the kids turning adult now is the biggest concern. There has been an array of things that have gone on years ago in that church from physical abuse , both types, mental abuse , suicide ,homo sexuality, and death from various illnesses that almost seem like they are repercussion.
It is sad to see that a place can be this way and nothing happens.
But vengeance is God's.
Because things could have gotten ugly.
Joey sepulveda