Seventh Day Adventist member convicted of child rape says religion “guiding light in his life”

The Times - UK October 16, 2009

Churchgoer groomed young girls for sex by reading them Bible extracts

by Adam Fresco, Crime Correspondent

A churchgoer who groomed young girls for sex by reading them extracts from the Bible faces life in jail after being convicted of a catalogue of crimes.

Gene Morrison, 51, targeted vulnerable young girls to satisfy his perverted fantasies, including the rapes of two girls aged 10 and 11.

He was unmasked as a sexual predator after his victims discovered that he had been jailed in 2007 for masquerading as a forensic scientist supplying potentially flawed evidence in 700 trials across Britain.

Morrison, a karate expert who also ran a Thai boxing club and was nicknamed “Rocky”, was described in court as a superficially charming and charismatic man who infiltrated the lives of those he abused over nearly 30 years.

His victims included vulnerable mothers, one of whom Morrison met through his church and promised to marry, saying, “I’m your saviour”, Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, was told.

Morrison, who attended a Seventh Day Adventist church in Stockport, Greater Manchester, was convicted of raping two girls under 13, six counts of indecent assault, four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and one count of perverting the course of justice. All the victims were aged under 16 at the time.

He was cleared of assaulting two other young women, and jurors were unable to reach verdicts involving another four.

He was remanded in custody to face sentence in December after prosecutors offered no further evidence over the undecided charges.

Morrison had denied 33 charges. He has two previous convictions for assaulting women: one he punched and the other was slapped across the face. In cross-examination, Morrison conceded that he had “struck out” against women but did not class it as violence.

Accused of being hypocritical as far as his religious beliefs were concerned, Morrison said that his religion was the “guiding light in his life” and that he tried to “copy the example of Jesus Christ”, but admitted “drifting away from the path sometimes”.

After his convictions for the fraud, his victims, some of whom he met through the Church, came forward to tell police that they had been attacked by Morrison. It was said that he gave some of them money and gifts or resorted to violence so that he could control them.

Neil Flewitt, QC, for the prosecution, said: “This man is a sexual predator with a particular interest in young woman, and by young I mean under-age girls.

“He is a superficially charming and charismatic man who has over many years infiltrated the lives of a large number of vulnerable mothers and children for the specific purpose of satisfying his own warped sexual desires.

“He would befriend them, and the trust of their families so he could take them home a sexually abuse them. He manipulated and groomed his victims by making them feel safe and special.”

When he was jailed in 2007 he was described as an “inveterate and compulsive liar” who had tricked judges, police and lawyers by producing bogus quaifications he had downloaded from the internet.

While running the Hyde-based Criminal and Forensic Investigations Bureau he was been paid at least £250,000 in taxpayers’ money for his “expert” advice.

This article was found at:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6877354.ece


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Follower of imprisoned cult leader Wayne Bent talks about death wish

KOB-TV 4 - New Mexico February 2, 2009

Just hours later, deputies took her away from her cult compound near Clayton where she has lived in isolation since she was six years old, along with others who believe Wayne Bent to be the messiah.

By: Jeremy Jojola, Eyewitness News 4, and Kurt Christopher, KOB.com

Esther (above) told Eyewitness News 4 she would not live with imprisoned cult leader Wayne Bent's

A New Mexico cult member has spoken exclusively to Eyewitness News 4 about why she wants to die for Wayne Bent, the man she believes to be God but a jury convicted as a child molester.

Eyewitness News 4 investigative reporter Jeremy Jojola spoke with the woman, known as Esther, just hours before deputies took her away from her cult compound near Clayton. It is where she has lived in isolation since she was six years old, along with others who believe Wayne Bent to be the messiah.

The compound, known as Strong City, is 311 miles from Albuquerque, the last 30 on dirt road. It is here in a trailer home that we found a pale and weak looking woman with a heating pad on her lap, sitting still in a chair. She is 25 years old.

"The last time I ate was the morning of December 30th," said Esther.

That was the day Wayne Bent, known as "Michael" to his cult, was sent to prison for ten years for touching a teenage follower's breast as she lay naked with him.

He claims it was a healing ceremony.

"I swear by God that he is in jail over a lie, and I won't support that," said Esther. "I'm willing to die on what I stand on, which is purely God's instructions to me. I wouldn't be doing this if God hadn't told me to, but I'm willing to die doing what God told me to do, and in essence, yes, it would be for Wayne Bent."

Esther wrote out a signed statement refusing medical care, saying "I don't want to be resuscitated unless Wayne Bent is released."

"I'll stand like a rock," she said. "I'm not giving in."

"I love Michael [Bent] with all my heart, and he means more to me than the world will ever know, and he's just precious to me, and I'm not going to live with his suffering."

"I want people to just leave me alone," she said. "Let me do what my religious beliefs are."

Jeff Bent, Wayne Bent's son, also signed Esther's statement as a witness.

"It's not my heart's desire for Esther to fast on the level she is and taking it to this length," said Jeff Bent. "But that's her conviction, and she's really acting out how we all feel about this injustice, and we're going to fight it."

But the written statement didn't work. Ten hours after Eyewitness News 4's Jeremy Jojola sat down with her, Union County deputies handed Esther a judge's order demanding she get into an ambulance to receive medical attention. The video was posted online by cult members.

Esther's older sister, who is no longer part of the cult, got the order to keep Esther from harming herself. Elsa Sayer is also a former member of the Strong City Cult. She has no problem with deputies hauling Esther off to the hospital

"It's just killing herself, for no reason I see," said Sayer.

It was Sayer's two daughters who climbed into Wayne Bent's bed naked, leading to the charges against him. Sayer hopes now that Bent is gone, his followers will see the light.

"I am glad that he's locked up in a way, because it gives everybody out there a chance to be away from his influence. It gives them a chance to think for themselves, so might see the real truth and stuff," said Sayer.

There are 45 people remaining in the Strong City compound, according to Jeff Bent. No one has moved away since his father was sent to prison.

As for Esther, it's unclear how long she will have to remain in the hospital or in her sister's custody. Medical research shows someone can suffer permanent organ damage after 30 days of starvation.

This article was found at:

http://kob.com/article/stories/S771532.shtml?cat=520


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Dr. Phil Show: Family Cult, Part 2

January 14, 2009

On today's show: Dr. Phil continues his look at extreme religious groups and how their influence can shatter lives and rip families apart — all in the name of God. Wayne Bent, leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church in New Mexico, was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual misconduct with teenage followers. Lorraine and Bambi are former members of this group who left a mother and two sisters behind. They say they were concerned to learn that their family members were fasting, which they considered a matter of life and death. Dr. Phil cameras follow the two women as they travel to the compound in New Mexico in an attempt to rescue their relatives. Is their mission successful, or will they have to accept that their loved ones may live in this religious environment forever? Then, Taariq and Nichole are a brother and sister who were raised in a group called the United Nuwabian Nation of Moors, on a 400-acre compound located outside of Atlanta. The siblings say they were forced to drop out of school and were sexually molested by the group’s leader, Dwight York. Although York was put in prison with the help of Nichole and Taariq’s testimony, they say they still struggle to move forward with their lives. Can Taariq and Nichole adjust to the outside world? Don’t miss the warning signs your loved one could be involved in an extreme religious group.

This article was found at:

http://www.drphil.com/shows/

Hunger-striking cult leader may eat again

KOB Eye Witness News - New Mexico
January 2, 2009

By: Eyewitness News 4

Cult leader and convicted child molester Wayne Bent said he is on a hunger strike that will eventually kill him--but he may have had a change of heart.
Bent, the leader of an apocalyptic cult in northern New Mexico, told a judge this week he would only serve several days of his 10-year-sentence. The self-proclaimed messiah has not been eating, saying he will die behind bars.
Throughout his trial, the 67-year-old sect leader repeatedly said he would refuse to eat if he was sent to prison:
"If I go to jail again, I am not going to live there. I will not," he told the court.
Bent hasn't been eating since he entered the prison system on Tuesday. Prison medical staff have been keeping close watch over the cult leader.
Late Thursday, they said Bent may have changed his mind.
"He says he plans to end the religious fast tomorrow (Friday) at noon," said Tia Bland of the New Mexico Department of Corrections. "He did talk to prison staff and shared some sentiments with them. It sort of sounds like he's made peace with the fact that he's in prison and he intends to do his time as comfortably as he can."
Bent went on a hunger strike in April after children were removed from his compound. He subesequently dropped that hunger strike, but said the world would end in October.
Bent could remain at the Los Lunas prison for the next month until the state decides where he should serve his sentence.
Bent was sentenced to 18 years with eight years suspended for felony convictions on one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor Tuesday. At his sentencing, bent maintained that no crime was committed at his Strong City compound. He said a jury of his followers would have agreed.
This article was found at:
http://kob.com/article/stories/S726612.shtml?cat=520

Cult leader sentenced to 18 years

KRQE - New Mexico December 30, 2008

Bent calls verdict crucifixion

• Reporter: Tim Maestas
• Web Producer: Bill Diven
• Web Producer: Todd Dukart

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE) - Cult leader Wayne Bent was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 years in prison for molesting a young follower.

Eight years of Bent's sentence were suspended, making the effective sentence 10 years unless the suspension is revoked.
Before the sentencing, the self-proclaimed messiah said in an online posting that the courts have again crucified the son of God.
Wayne Bent faced a mandatory minimum sentence of three years and up to 18 years after being found guilty by a jury in Taos on Dec. 15. He was convicted of one of two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Bent, 67, admitted lying naked with the two girls in 2006 but said any touching was an act of religious healing with no sexual overtones.
Bent is the leader of the Lord our Righteousness Church which also refers to its remote Union County compound northwest as Strong City.
Shortly after the verdict he told reporters he had been falsely convicted. Since then he's posted a statement on the group's Web site that printed out to 17 pages.
By convicting him jurors have assured their day of destruction, he wrote.
"Now at Christmas time 2008 ... they have crucified the son of God afresh," Bent added. "The jury was a very good picture of the world, and by convicting the son of God for a crime that he did not commit, as they did with Jesus Christ, they have convicted themselves."
To read Bent's statement in its entirety, click here .

This article was found at:

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crime_krqe_clayton_cult_leader_calls_
verdict_crucifixion_
200812291835

Son Says Apocalyptic Sect Leader Won't Live Long in Prison

Fox News - December 16, 2008

Associated Press


TAOS, N.M. — The leader of an apocalyptic sect convicted of sexual misconduct with young female followers isn't hoping for a break when he's sentenced and likely wouldn't live long in prison, his son says.

Wayne Bent, 67, faces up to 18 years in prison for his felony convictions on Monday on one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

State law requires a minimum of three years in prison on the criminal sexual contact conviction.

Bent says he probably wouldn't eat if were locked up again.

"He says he's finished with his work. ... He has nothing more to do here," Jeff Bent said after the verdict was announced in a courtroom in Taos.

"He's told me many times he's not going to be in prison very long," the son said.

Wayne Bent's court-appointed lawyer, Sarah Montoya of Raton, said she expects to appeal the case.

"It was really about religion," she said. "He was convicted because of prejudice."

Bent, a former minister with the Seventh-day Adventist Church who broke away two decades ago, is the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church. He claims God spoke to him in 2000 and told him he was the Messiah.

Bent and the two young sisters who lay naked with him — 14 and 16 at the time — claim the separate incidents in July and August 2006 were spiritual exercises.

"It was a religious healing experience for me. ... It had nothing to do with sex," the younger of the girls, now 17, said after the verdict. "It had to do with healing to my heart."

Bent was found not guilty on a criminal sexual contact charge involving the younger girl, whose name in the sect is Healed.

He was convicted of criminal sexual contact with Healed's older sister, and for contributing to the delinquency of both girls.

Bent testified last week that he placed his hand on the sternums, but not the breasts, of the girls.

The older sister testified he also kissed her breast.

"Just as with Jesus they convicted an innocent man," Bent said after the verdict.

But he said it was all part of God's plan.

"These encounters with these two girls were intended to offend your world and make you mad and convict me," he said.

Bent was allowed to return to the remote ranch called Strong City, near the Colorado-New Mexico line, to await sentencing.

He must stay there except for visits with his lawyer and appointments related to pre-sentence evaluation, and he was told not to contact the girls.

The younger girl, now 17, is living with her parents but wants to return to Strong City when she turns 18.

"God's in control and my heart's with Michael, and it's like wherever he goes, that's where my heart is," she said. Bent also uses the name Michael Travesser.

She and Bent were allowed to talk briefly after the verdict. Montoya, who attended the meeting, said that was a promise the district attorney made to the girl before the trial.

Bent testified that Healed came to his house late at night in the summer of 2006, after he was in bed, and "asked to be skin-to-skin with me."

Bent said there was space between him and the girl and that he was wearing undershorts; the girl had testified she believed he was naked.

Bent was clothed when the older sister came to him in daylight hours a couple of days later, according to testimony.

Jeff Bent said he believed it was the "end of the road for the world" because of his father's conviction.

He sidestepped questions about whether the 45 or so church members would fast if Wayne Bent did while he was in prison. Church members had indicated last week that they would.

He also refused to say what would happen to the sect if Bent were imprisoned.

"Today we're going home. That's all I can tell you," he said.

This article was found at:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,467590,00.html

Leader of NM sect guilty in child sex case

Associated Press - December 15, 2008

by Deborah Baker

TAOS, N.M. (AP) — An apocalyptic religious sect's leader was convicted Monday of criminal sexual contact with an underage girl in an incident he called a spiritual healing exercise.
Wayne Bent, 67, was found guilty of one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He is the self-described Messiah and leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church in New Mexico.
"Just as with Jesus, they've convicted an innocent man," Bent said after the verdict.
Bent, who calls himself Michael Travesser, faced two counts each of criminal sexual contact of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in allegations involving two sisters, ages 14 and 16, in 2006. He was acquitted on the criminal sexual contact charge involving the younger girl.
His court-appointed lawyer, Sarah Montoya of Raton, said she expects to file an appeal.
"It was really about religion," she said. "He was convicted because of prejudice."
Bent testified last week he placed his hand on the sternums, but not the breasts, of the teenagers as they lay naked with him in separate incidents. He said he was careful that the spiritual healing exercises with the sisters not take a sexual turn.
The younger girl, now 17, said in an interview after the verdict that she was happy to hear Bent was cleared on the more serious of the counts involving her.
"It was a religious healing experience for me. ... It had nothing to do with sex," she said. "It had to do with healing to my heart."
Bent said the verdict was part of God's plan. "These encounters with these two girls were intended to offend your world and make you mad and convict me," he said.
His son, Jeff Bent, said church followers were not discouraged. "It's just part of our prophetic time that we're in," he said.
Wayne Bent has said he probably would not eat if he went to prison and that he wouldn't expect to survive the experience. His son said he would regard the verdict "as a death sentence" for his father.
Prosecutor Emilio Chavez told jurors in closing arguments the case was not about religion and that Bent must be treated like anyone else.
"The state's not saying any of this was for sexual gratification ... we are not saying his beliefs are wrong ... we are treating Mr. Bent the same as anyone else," the prosecutor said.
Bent was allowed to return to Strong City, the sect's compound near Clayton, pending sentencing on Dec. 29. He could face a maximum of 18 years in prison.
This article was found at:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIFBKPQcesX84wXvSFNHAToM
VzwwD953FIBG3

NM sect leader says he touched girls' sternums

The Associated Press - December 11, 2008

by Deborah Baker

TAOS, N.M. (AP) — The leader of an apocalyptic religious sect testified Thursday that he lay in bed with and touched the sternums — but the not the breasts — of naked 14- and 16-year-olds.
Wayne Bent said he was careful that the healing exercises with the two sisters on separate occasions in 2006 were not of a sexual nature.
"I never touched any fleshy part of the breast," Bent said during about one hour on the witness stand during the fourth day of his trial.
Bent, 67, a self-described Messiah and leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for separate incidents 2006.
He said he was very cautious to avoid any sexual activity with the girls. They were unclothed "because that's what they requested of me," he said.
Bent, who calls himself Michael Travesser, said the 14-year-old came to his house late at night after he was already in bed and "asked to be skin-to-skin with me." But Bent said, "There was a space in between us."
He also said he "could have" kissed the 16-year-old because it's something he does with church members.
On Wednesday, the two sisters testified that they had lain naked in bed with Bent on separate occasions and that he had kissed them.
Bent's attorney, Sarah Montoya of Raton, told jurors in her opening statement Monday there was no sexual contact and no crimes were committed.
The girls' parents are former followers of Bent. At the time of the allegations, the daughters were living in Strong City but the parents, then still church members, had moved out of the compound.
The defense rested its case Thursday and closing statements were expected Friday.
This article was found at:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIFBKPQcesX84wXvSFNHAToM
VzwwD950SAUG0

Teens testify in cult leader’s molestation trial

KOB Eyewitness News4 - New Mexico

By: Jeremy Jojola, Eyewitness News 4, and Reed Upton, KOB.com

Two teens who prosecutors say were sexually fondled by the leader of a northern New Mexico cult testified Wednesday morning.
Wayne Bent, the leader of a Union County cult that calls itself The Lord Our Righteousness Church, is standing trial in Taos.
During the third day of the trial, the 14- and 16-year-old girls told jurors that they had been naked in bed with Bent but denied that anything sexual occurred.
The older girl testified that Bent kissed her several time on the lips and breasts while she was naked.
A child abuse expert also testified and said that Bent may have preyed on the two teenage girls like a sex predator.
"These girls seemed to have been possibly groomed by him in a way that a sex predator does and that is developing their trust in him by being kind and loving and mild gentle," said Dr. Elizabeth Dinsmore.
Bent, a self proclaimed Messiah, has said that the incidents were not sexual in nature but, rather, were religious.
On Tuesday, the girls’ mother, who has been kicked out of the cult, testified that the older girl has become angry and hurt since the incidents and the youngest girl has become distant.
Bent is expected to take the stand later in the trial.
This article was found at:
http://kob.com/article/stories/S700005.shtml?cat=500

Parents of two teenage girls testify in cult leader's trial

KRQE - New Mexico December 9, 2008

Cult parents felt betrayed

by Tim Maestas

TAOS, N. M. (KRQE) - The parents of two teenage girls testified Tuesday they were already wary of cult leader Wayne Bent when they learned he had lain naked with their daughters.
The girls' parents were long-time followers of Wayne Bent as members of the Lord our Righteousness Church. Bent is on trial charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
KRQE News 13 is not revealing the parents' names to protect the identities of the alleged victims. The trial, which began Monday, was moved to Taos County on a change of venue.
The parents took the witness stand explaining how their opinion of Bent began to change when church members moved to Union County in northeastern New Mexico in 2000. That's the same year Bent, also known to his followers as Michael Travesser, first claimed to be the messiah.
Their concerns solidified when the girls revealed that Bent had lain naked with them in 2006, the parents said. Bent, his followers and his defense attorney have claimed those innocent acts of God, acts of healing.
According to the girls' parents, they're especially worried about the younger of the two.
"To me it's like she wants to sleep with an older guy that's way past her age group," the father said. "She's in love with him."
The girls' mom appears to be especially disappointed with bent.
"I feel like I lost her in a way," the mother said. "My oldest daughter struggles with a lot of different things.
"I feel he violated my trust by doing what he did with my daughters."
The father testified he doesn't hate Bent, but he doesn't trust him with his daughters.
According to Bent's defense attorney the teens feel they are not the victims of any sort of sex crimes.
This article was found at:
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crime_krqe_taos_cult_parents_felt_
betrayed_200812092155_rev1

New Mexico sect leader's molestation trial opens

Associated Press - December 8, 2008

by Deborah Baker

TAOS, N.M. (AP) — The leader of an apocalyptic religious sect in New Mexico had inappropriate contact with teenage sisters, prosecutors said Monday at the outset of his trial on molestation charges.
Wayne Bent, 67, lay in bed naked with a 14-year-old girl and also kissed her, Deputy District Attorney Tomas Benavidez told jurors in a state courtroom in Taos. He also kissed her 16-year-old sister and lay in bed with her, Benavidez said.
Bent, a self-described Messiah and leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
His attorney, Sarah Montoya of Raton, acknowledged that Bent touched the naked girls but said he never sexually molested them or committed any other crime during the 2006 encounters.
Benavidez said the younger girl does not consider herself to have been sexually abused. He said she wants to return to the sect's compound, Strong City, near the New Mexico-Colorado border town of Clayton — from which children have been removed — "and be Wayne Bent's wife."
Montoya said the girl "considers herself married to God," not to Bent.
State police agent Matthew Martinez testified that Bent told him he had touched the girls in "a healing type of manner," and that Bent said he put his hand on their sternums.
Montoya also described it as a healing exercise. She said the younger girl will testify that "after he laid his hand on her she did feel closer to God."
Bent said at one point that he would not participate in the legal proceedings because he believes he could not get a fair trial, but he sat with his lawyer in the courtroom and listened intently to opening statements and the testimony of the first witnesses.
About three dozen of Bent's followers attended Monday's proceedings.
Bent, who calls himself Michael Travesser, was a minister for the Seventh-day Adventist Church but separated from that church 21 years ago and continued to preach. He claims God spoke to him in 2000 and told him he was the Messiah.
This article was found at:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIFBKPQcesX84wXvSFNHAToM
VzwwD94UUN9G0

‘Messiah’ Cult Leader Arrested

Albuquerque Journal - October 31, 2008

by Vic Vela

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — The “Messiah” is back in jail. Union County sheriff’s deputies arrested cult leader Wayne Bent at his northern New Mexico compound Wednesday afternoon after a judge here issued a bench warrant when Bent failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing.

Bent and his followers in The Lord Our Righteousness Church have been fasting to protest charges that Bent had illegal sexual contact with underage girls at his Strong City compound near Des Moines. And his congregation believes they will ascend to heaven tonight,

Jeff Bent, the church leader’s son, said Thursday. “We don’t anticipate any future beyond Oct. 31,” he said.

Wayne Bent, who says he’s been anointed by God as the Messiah, was a no-show for a Las Vegas motions hearing in his criminal case. State District Judge Gerald E. Baca, who had specifically asked Bent to appear at the hearing in person, ordered that Bent be arrested when only his defense attorney showed up. Bent recently promised to stop cooperating with court proceedings.

Under Baca’s order, Bent was to be taken first to a Union County medical center for a physical and psychological evaluation.

Bent told the Journal in a recent interview that he has not eaten since Oct. 16 and was planning to go completely without water, beginning today. All of Bent’s followers at the compound — 45 adults — are following his example and some stopped drinking water last weekend, he said.

Jeff Bent said by telephone Thursday that his father’s “thinking is there will be no trial.” Wayne Bent’s followers believe that midnight tonight ends their “Year of Jubilee,” with a deliverance by God from their “earthly life,” Jeff Bent said. “We are glorified, given new bodies and ascend to heaven,” he said. The Year of Jubilee is “the year of judgment when the last trumpet is heard from God and God’s people are set free from their earthly bondage,” he added.

The window for God’s deliverance ends at midnight and he fully expects to be delivered by God and has no plans beyond that, Jeff Bent said. The church members believe “that if (the deliverance) doesn’t happen, they don’t want to go on living.” He said does not mean they will commit suicide, just that “they want to stop sustaining life.”

[...]

If the health of the church members comes into question because of their fasts, it doesn’t look like the state is going to intervene any time soon.

“It’s not the obligation of the district attorney’s office to check on the welfare of the people at Strong City,” said assistant district attorney Emilio J. Chavez during Wednesday’s court hearing. That’s a different tack than the DA’s office took in a court filing last week, when a prosecutor asked for a judge’s approval to make welfare checks at the Strong City compound on grounds that Bent’s followers may not be “competent” because they’re under his influence.

Jeff Bent said some relatives of the church members have shown up at the compound to try to take fasting members away, but they have not been allowed onto the property.

[...]

The legal question before Baca on Wednesday was to consider a change of venue for Bent’s upcoming trial, which the judge granted. Bent was scheduled to begin a weeklong trial Nov. 17 in Clayton, and it will now be in Taos at an undetermined date.

This article was found at:

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22885/wayne-bent-cult

Apocalyptic Cult Leader Arrested for Failure to Appear in Court

Fox News - October 31, 2008
Associated Press

Wayne Bent's son, Jeff Bent, said: "We don't anticipate any future beyond Oct. 31."

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — The leader of an apocalyptic sect who is accused of sex crimes against underage female followers has been arrested for failing to appear at a court hearing.

State District Judge Gerald Baca had asked Wayne Bent, leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, to attend a hearing after Bent promised to stop cooperating with court proceedings. Baca issued a bench warrant when Bent did not show up.
Union County sheriff's deputies arrested Bent on Thursday at his compound, which sect members call Strong City, in northeastern New Mexico.
Baca ordered Bent taken to a medical center in Clayton for evaluation before going to jail.
Bent was indicted last spring on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He has contended that the touching was nonsexual and a "healing" measure.
Bent and his followers have been fasting to protest the charges. Bent hasn't eaten since Oct. 16, and he started his "no water or food" fast Thursday as he was taken away from the compound, according to the group's Web site.
"His fast will continue until he is delivered. The fast at Strong City will continue until our deliverance," a posting on the site states.In a telephone interview Thursday with the Albuquerque Journal, Bent's son, Jeff Bent, said: "We don't anticipate any future beyond Oct. 31." He said the group is expecting God to "deliver" them "free from earthly claims."

This article was found at:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,445533,00.html

Cult leader's case headed to jury

KOB Eyewitness News 4 - New Mexico
October 21, 2008

A judge has decided to send the case of a self-styled messiah who is charged with molesting two young girls to a jury.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Judge Gerald E. Baca has ruled that he won't hear from the two girls that Wayne Bent is accused of touching while lying with them in a bed.
Bent, the leader of a cult that lives together in Strong City north of Clayton in Union County, contends that his actions were religious rather than sexual.
Bent was arrested in May and charged with fondling the girls.
The cult leader warns on his website that God will leave New Mexico a "burned field," because of his prosecution. He says he's been working on the entreaty for nearly two months.
Bent also says he is going on a hunger strike. The first week, he says he will eat one meal a day. The second week he will only drink juice and on the third, only water. After October 31, he says he won't eat or drink again until he is in heaven.
Bent says neither he nor his followers will commit suicide, but writes they are "leaving this world."
Bent says all of this is in protest of the way he is being treated by the state. His trial is scheduled to start November 17.
This article was found at:
http://kob.com/article/stories/S626607.shtml?cat=504

Cult leader Wayne Bent says his "persecution" is bringing about the end of the world

KOB TV - New Mexico

October 12, 2008





Wayne Bent

A self-proclaimed messiah being investigated for inappropriate contact with children says his "persecution" is bringing about the end of the world.

Union County cult leader Wayne Bent is accused of molesting children whom he says he was only "healing".

In a statement on his website, he says the investigation into his activities have caused such things as the crisis on Wall Street.

Bent is awaiting trial in Union County after he was accused of lying naked with underage nude girls. One of them says Bent kissed her on the lips and breasts. Bent says the encounter was a religious experience, not a sexual one.

The cult leader warns on his website that God will leave New Mexico a "burned field," because of his prosecution. He says he's been working on the entreaty for nearly two months.

Bent also says he is going on a hunger strike. The first week, he says he will eat one meal a day. The second week he will only drink juice and on the third, only water. After October 31, he says he won't eat or drink again until he is in heaven.

Bent says neither he nor his followers will commit suicide, but writes they are "leaving this world."

Bent says all of this is in protest of the way he is being treated by the state. His trial is scheduled to start November 17.

This article was found at:


http://kob.com/article/stories/S615833.shtml?cat=519

13-year-old girl state officials removed from apocalyptic cult has been returned to her parents

Las Cruces Sun-News - June 18, 2008

Teen from Clayton sect released from state custody

By DEBORAH BAKER Associated Press Writer

SANTA FE—A 13-year-old girl whom state officials removed from an apocalyptic group in northeastern New Mexico has been returned to her parents and may eventually move back to the sect, whose leader faces charges of sex crimes against teenage girls.
The girl, known in the sect as Willow, was released to her parents on Tuesday, said Romaine Serna, a spokeswoman for the state Children, Youth and Families Department.
Serna said agency workers "believe that the parents are committed to keeping their child safe."
The sect's leader, Wayne Bent—who calls himself Michael Travesser—celebrated by ending a fast he said he began on June 6 to protest Willow's absence.
A video posted on the Web site of The Lord Our Righteousness Church showed Bent eating lunch with Willow and her parents.
The video showed the girl being embraced by Bent and other church members as she arrived at Strong City, as sect members call their community.
She was one of three children removed in late April from the compound, located in a remote ranching area north of Clayton near the New Mexico-Colorado line.
Bent, 67, has since been indicted for sex crimes against two young female followers. Willow was not one of them.

Bent's son, Jeff Bent, said Tuesday in an e-mail that Willow will live with her father, who has moved to a ranch about 20 miles away from the compound. Her mother will remain at Strong City.
The younger Bent said that arrangement would continue for the summer, after which Willow could return to Strong City if she wanted to.
Serna acknowledged that Willow could end up back at the community, although she said the agency recommended an alternative living arrangement.
"Should her parents believe they can maintain her safely at the compound, they may in fact do so. ... We were assured that this child would be safe," Serna said.
Serna said it was only after "careful, careful assessment" that social workers who had been working with the family recommended to a state district judge that the child be returned to her parents.
"And that's not a recommendation we would make lightly," she added.
District Attorney Donald Gallegos of Taos initially brought charges against Wayne Bent in magistrate court in the cases of three girls, who had told authorities they "lay naked" with Bent, who claims to be the Messiah.
Wayne Bent has denied any molestation occurred.
"As I have said before, this touching was never sexual, or even close to sexual in feeling or intent," he wrote Tuesday on the Web site. "It was for healing, and it did heal."
When Gallegos took the case to a grand jury, he presented evidence involving two of the girls—who Wayne Bent says were 15 and 16 at the time of the incidents—but not the third girl, who was 12 at the time.
Bent was indicted on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The case is pending.
Serna said the boy who was removed from the compound is with his parents in another state and CYFD is no longer involved. The other girl who was removed remains in foster care, and CYFD is working with the girl and her parents, Serna said.
Authorities have said no minors remain in the community, which numbers about 50 people.
This article was found at:
http://www.lcsun-news.com/
ci_9612489

N.M. sect leader begins fast for child's return

The Associated Press - June 6, 2008
CLAYTON, N.M.—The leader of an apocalyptic sect accused of sex crimes against underage female followers said Friday he will not eat until state child welfare workers return a teenager who was removed from the sect's compound.
Two teenage girls and a boy were taken from the compound in northeastern New Mexico in late April by the state Children, Youth and Families Department after the allegations were raised against Wayne Bent, 67, who heads The Lord Our Righteousness Church.
Bent, who calls himself Michael Travesser, has been indicted by a grand jury on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
He initially had been charged in magistrate court with alleged crimes against three girls who previously lived on the church's compound. The girls had told authorities they "lay naked" with Bent, who claims to be the Messiah.
Bent has denied any molestation occurred, and his followers say the charges are false.
Bent, in a posting Friday on the sect's Web site, wrote that he wants one teen—who he calls Willow—to be released from state custody and returned to her parents. He explained that he has "taken the course of fasting and prayer rather than continue to spar with the insane."

While being held in the Colfax County jail last month, Bent had also refused to eat or drink for a couple of days.
Bent wrote in Friday's posting that Willow was stressed and allegedly being mentally abused while in state custody.
"I am now at the place where I must act on behalf of Willow, even if it is to give up my life for her," he wrote. "The state uses me as an excuse to steal a child, and I am not going to give them that excuse. I will not permit them to use me for their own dark agenda."
CYFD spokeswoman Romaine Serna said she could not comment on the case due to a gag order imposed by the judge.
According to an e-mail from Bent's son, Jeff Bent, state District Judge John Paternoster on Friday denied a request for an emergency hearing regarding the teen's custody.
Bent and his followers have lived on a former ranch in a remote part of Colfax County near the New Mexico-Colorado line since 2000. Bent has acknowledged having sex with followers and lying naked with virgins, but he denies any children or adults were molested at the community. He has said the virgins asked for sex and he refused.
This article was found at:
http://www.lcsun-news.com/
ci_9506685

Self-proclaimed messiah says that "he is ready to go" and "I want to take all of my children with me"

Red Orbit - May 27, 2008

Cops Worry About Web Posting
By VIC VELA | Albuquerque Journal Northern Bureau

The self-proclaimed messiah of a northern New Mexico doomsday cult said recently that "he is ready to go" and "I want to take all of my children with me" in a Web site posting that has caught the attention of law enforcement.
But Wayne C. Bent, 67, denies his remarks indicate that his group is planning a mass suicide.
Bent -- indicted earlier this week by a grand jury on charges of sex crimes against children -- wrote on his group's Web site Wednesday that "we must leave this world behind, or we would spiritually die as the wicked are spiritually dead."
"I cannot live here, and will not live here just the moment my Father gives me release," he wrote. "The earth is hell, and nothing like the light of my Father's bright domain."
The posting by the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church has not gone unnoticed by law enforcement.
"It's obviously a concern when somebody hints at assisted suicide," State Police spokesman Peter Olson said. "At this moment, though, we don't have much more evidence than a rambling post on a Web site."
In 2002, State Police and the FBI investigated rumors of a mass suicide at the group's Strong City compound, located near Des Moines in rural Union County. Nothing came out of the investigation and Bent's son, Jeff Bent, told the Journal in a recent interview that such an event was never planned.
Wayne Bent replied to an e-mail request by the Journal for clarification of his post by saying, "from your world, it would surely be a good question."
He then referred to a KRQE-TV Web site link in which he told the television station by e-mail that "we have been accused of planning suicide. But this would never be an option for us, for suicide is the coward's way off of the earth."
Bent was arrested at the compound May 6 by State Police on allegations that he had inappropriate sexual contact with three girls, one of whom would have been 12 at the time of the act.
Bent faces two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Source: Albuquerque Journal
This article was found at:
http://www.redorbit.com/
news/technology/1404194/
cops_worry_about_web_posting/

Son: Arrest of Cult Dad Like Betrayal of Jesus

ABC News - May 12, 2008

Cult Leader Took Daughter-in-Law as One of His Seven Wives
By KATIE BOSLAND
DES MOINES, New Mexico
The son of a cult leader who calls himself the messiah said the criminal complaint filed by a one-time follower charging him with sexual abuse of a minor is just like the betrayal of Jesus by a disciple.
And the cult leader, Wayne Bent, has noted on the group's Web site that he spent "three days and three nights" in jail, comparing it to the three days and three nights that Jesus was buried before the New Testament claims he rose from the dead.
Bent, who got out of jail on bond over the weekend, has returned to the cult's Strong City compound in a remote corner of New Mexico near the Colorado border. He has declined interviews.
Bent's son, Jeff, told ABC News that his father was innocent of charges that he had sexual contact with a minor and contributed to the delinquency of a minor. The charges prompted authorities to remove three teenagers from the compound.
Jeff Bent said his father did lay down naked with minor children, but said "he's never had sexual contact with minors at all, ever, he's been very careful to protect and respect people he's been with and who he's touched and healed."
He compared the practice of lying naked with teenagers as "something akin to a parent holding a child," and said it was something his father was ordered to do by God.
"This wasn't his natural desire to be involved in any of this. This was what God had him do," Jeff Bent said.
The son said what is happening to his father, who goes by the name Michael Travesser, is what happened to Jesus.
"These circumstances are the same as when the ministry of Jesus ended, Jesus was betrayed by a former disciple," he told ABC News.
"Jesus was betrayed by a former disciple. He was arraigned on false charges, he was buried. He was crucified and buried. And the district attorney has his own purpose to bury my dad. He wants to make a name for himself by burying a cult leader so he can be elected," Jeff Bent said.
While Wayne Bent has refused interviews, he posted a message on the group's Web site, StrongCity.info, after getting out of jail on Saturday.
"When the Father told me that I was His Messiah, I did not know the fullness, or even partially, what that would mean. But I got a taste of it in the Clayton Jail. I was in the jail three days and three nights. I was in the heart of the earth for the time that Jesus was," Wayne Bent wrote.
Jeff Bent also said that God ordered his father to take his daughter-in-law as his wife. Since Jeff believes his father to be the Messiah, this was a sacrifice he felt he had to make for God.
His father has seven spiritual wives "that were literally, physically consummated&[fulfilling] the prophecy in Isaiah four that said seven woman will take hold of one man in that day," Jeff Bent said.
"My wife and I separated and dissolved our marriage in 2006, and she became one of the seven after that time," Jeff Bent said.
Bent and his followers are members of the Lord of Our Righteousness Church, founded in 1987 by Wayne Bent. Jeff Bent told ABC News that there are around 50 members living at the Strong City compound.
This article was found at:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/
story?id=4837938&page=1

Children removed from Union County cult

KOB TV - New Mexico
April 30, 2008

Wayne Bent, known to his followers as Michael Travesser

The head of a cult based in northeastern New Mexico has gone on a hunger strike and issued a threat to Governor Bill Richardson after four children were removed from the cult's compound by state officials.
Romaine Serna of the Children Youth and Families says two girls and one boy were removed from Strong City, the Union County headquarters of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, following allegations that they may have been subject to inappropriate contact.
Serna says a fourth child, a girl, who had been at the compound but now lives elsewhere agreed to be interviewed by the department. Serna says there are no other children at the compound.
Cult leader Wayne C. Bent, who is known to his membership as Michael Travesser, posted a message to the cult's Web site saying that he hadn't eaten since the children's removal on April 22.
Bent also posted a letter to Richardson noting that because the state has "moved against us because of our faith… He is free to move against you."
The Journal reports that state and federal law enforcement officials visited Strong City in 2002 to investigate allegations that members were planning a mass suicide.
Peter Olson of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety says that "there's been a long history" of state police involvement with the group.
According the Journal, Bent had predicted the end of the world last October 31 and says that he is the second coming of Jesus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This article was found at:
http://kob.com/article/stories/
S429065.shtml?cat=500