Posted on 01/01/2008 5:21:36 PM PST by TornadoAlley3
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- A Sunday school teacher who was arrested on suspicion of molesting a 5-year-old girl at a church blamed his actions on his “high blood pressure,” according to a police report.
Terence James Greenwood, 62, a married father of two children, also cast blame on his “medication,” or the possibility he had “mental problems,” the report said.
Greenwood faces six felony charges, including child molestation, sexual conduct with a minor and indecent exposure.
Greenwood has been a member of the Chandler United Methodist Church for years, but just started helping in the classrooms in September, according to the police report.
In a phone call to Greenwood from the victim's mother before his arrest, he first denied what the victim said, the report stated.
He then admitted he'd "made a mistake" and was "ashamed" of it but said he only "exposed himself" to the 5-year-old girl, according to the report.
Greenwood was arrested on Dec. 21 outside a Paradise Bakery store on Ray Road where he does maintenance work.
In interviews with investigators, Greenwood admitted he "touched" the victim "inappropriately," "exposed" himself and made the young girl touch him and perform oral sex, the police report stated.
He also said he "tried to touch two other little girls" in the Sunday school class who spent the night with his 11-year-old daughter, according to the report.
As for why he "took advantage" of the 5-year-old girl, he said "she trusted him" and was "quiet," the police report said.
After getting away with it one Sunday, he said he was "emboldened" to "do it again," the report said.
Police said the church sent letters to its members about Greenwood's arrest. Officers said they are investigating the possibility there might be one other victim.
Greenwood is being held without bond.
After getting away with it one Sunday, he said he was “emboldened” to “do it again,” the report said.
The prison system has a drug cocktail that will fix that.
Really lowers the old BP
I hear lethal injection is a good way to get that blood pressure under control.
WTF? Seriously? I’ll admit that he has mental problems - anyone who molests kids has something seriously wrong with their mind. But his blood pressure meds causing him to want to mess around with a little kid? Complete and total BS.
Most churches have a background check or screening process for people who volunteer for or work for the church. Surely a denomination as large as the United Methodist Church does that. There is no excuse for not screening every employee and volunteer after all the Catholic scandals—or did the Methodists think it could never happen to them?
It’s a huge denomination, very wealthy, and surely has insurance to cover damages from offenses like this committed by employees or volunteers at the church. The parents ought to bring a class action suit because of the counseling expenses they’ll have to go through, and the permanent damage to the children.
There is NO excuse for not vetting and training employees and volunteers. No church volunteer or employee should ever be alone with a child not his/her own. There are strict protocols in my parish that must be followed whenever minors are involved in any activity.
I think it would be true justice if the act he made the little girl commit was forced upon this satanic spawn when he arrives at the”correctional’facility and meets Bobby Ray and Tyrone
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Death penalty for child molestation. End of story.
There’s not enough you could do to someone who takes advantage of a child and child’s trust like that.
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