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Sunday school teacher sentenced for actions with teen
Pioneer Press ^ | June 27 2002 | HANNAH ALLAM

Posted on 06/27/2002 3:19:53 AM PDT by 2Trievers

A Sunday school teacher who asked a 16-year-old boy to write "What would Jesus do?" on his penis will spend a month on work release, according to the sentencing agreement reached Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court.

Todd Warren, 42, who pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor count of indecent exposure, was also originally ordered to write a letter describing the incident to fellow worshipers at Prairie Oak Community Church in Andover. But the church balked at the sentence, arguing that such a letter would be considered pornographic and would identify the teen-age victim.

Although the church was not a party to the criminal case, Ramsey County District Judge Margaret Marrinan heard the argument Tuesday and instead allowed the pastor to write a letter to his 150-member congregation and simply keep Warren's letter in the case file. A note from the victim's mother supported the decision.

The Rev. Steve Gahagen's letter contains less description about the incident, and asks parishioners to pray for protection and reconciliation.

"The Evil One has struck a tremendous blow to our congregation," Gahagen wrote.

Warren, a nuclear pharmacist, befriended the boy at church and briefly hired him as an employee, according to court papers. Last September, Warren took the boy to a park and asked him personal and sexual questions about masturbation and homosexuality. He invited the boy to his office and said writing "What would Jesus do?" on his penis would prevent sexual temptation. Warren also asked for daily e-mail updates about the boy's sexual thoughts.

The boy told his parents, who alerted Roseville police.

"In time, I know God will help us to forgive him for this grievous act and we wish him no harm," the boy's mother wrote to the judge. "The day of sentencing was the beginning of the healing process for our family."

Warren resigned from the board of the church and he and his family are no longer part of the congregation, according to court papers. The pastor stressed that Warren was not acting in a church role when he invited the boy to his office.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: wwjd
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WWJD?
1 posted on 06/27/2002 3:19:53 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: 2Trievers
WWJD?

I don't know, but I'll tell you what I do. I write, "Man, you really should think about what Jesus would do before you get an erection and can no longer read the protective message contained in this sentence...."
2 posted on 06/27/2002 3:31:37 AM PDT by Hemlock
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To: 2Trievers
Was it to be written lengthways or on the circomfrence?

Whoa!

3 posted on 06/27/2002 3:33:12 AM PDT by leadhead
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To: leadhead
Howz 'bout a tattoo? ... your choice on compostion .. LOL &;-)
4 posted on 06/27/2002 4:16:33 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: 2Trievers
Hey ! No Catholic bishops involved here !
Nothing to see here !
Move along !
5 posted on 06/27/2002 7:00:57 AM PDT by genefromjersey
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To: 2Trievers
The judge shoulf have let the father write the words. He probably would have hacked them in with a hatchet. Oops, sorry about that, fella.
6 posted on 06/27/2002 7:02:20 AM PDT by B4Ranch
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To: 2Trievers
WWFD is what got him in trouble.
7 posted on 06/27/2002 7:02:35 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: 2Trievers; All
The way I read this, the teacher told the boy to write it on his(the boy's) penis. I don't think the boy wrote it on the teachers wanker.
8 posted on 06/27/2002 7:07:10 AM PDT by FreeTally
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To: B4Ranch
The judge shoulf have let the father write the words. He probably would have hacked them in with a hatchet. Oops, sorry about that, fella.

I think some of you might be reading this wrong. The boy was instructed to write it on his own penis.

He invited the boy to his office and said writing "What would Jesus do?" on his penis would prevent sexual temptation. Warren also asked for daily e-mail updates about the boy's sexual thoughts.

If its supposed to prevent temptation, and he was asking for an update on the boys thoughts, it seems to me like the boy was supposed to have it written on his, not the other way around.

9 posted on 06/27/2002 7:10:45 AM PDT by FreeTally
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To: 2Trievers
Some of us could write the Gettysburg Address on our members.:^0
10 posted on 06/27/2002 7:15:06 AM PDT by Kermit
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To: FreeTally
I am getting too used to sick adults molesting children, I guess. When I saw the "indect exposure" charge, I just automatically thought the sick way.
11 posted on 06/27/2002 7:17:45 AM PDT by B4Ranch
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To: Kermit
LOL ...well, I've seen the Gettysburg Address written on the head of a pin ... what are you saying here? &;-)
12 posted on 06/27/2002 7:24:47 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: 2Trievers
Shhhhhhh! Shhhhhhhh! Quiet! Don't tell the ladies.:^0
13 posted on 06/27/2002 9:16:46 AM PDT by Kermit
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To: 2Trievers
Some of us could write the Gettysburg Address on our members.:^0

Mine just says 'nuts'. ;~)

14 posted on 06/27/2002 9:21:30 AM PDT by TADSLOS
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To: Kermit
Some of us could write the Gettysburg Address on our members.:^0

And others of us could write the full text of Clinton's second inaugural speech on ours. The Gettysburgh Address is pretty short, as Presidiential speeches go.

15 posted on 06/30/2002 8:17:31 AM PDT by Maceman
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To: 2Trievers
Warren, a nuclear pharmacist, ...

You've really gotta keep an eye on nuclear pharamacists. Strange group.

16 posted on 06/30/2002 8:27:22 AM PDT by Doe Eyes
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To: Maceman
I didn't want to brag.;^)
17 posted on 06/30/2002 8:54:02 AM PDT by Kermit
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To: 2Trievers; TADSLOS; Maceman
It's a great pick up line: Would you like to see my copy of the Gettysburg Address.:^0
18 posted on 06/30/2002 8:58:44 AM PDT by Kermit
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To: Kermit; TADSLOS; Maceman

Stone chisels perhaps on your wish list? &;-)

19 posted on 06/30/2002 9:20:29 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: Doe Eyes
Be forewarned ... occupational bigotry is a very serious offense. &;-)
20 posted on 06/30/2002 9:25:10 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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