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Former minister's abuse trial delayed
pantagraph ^ | November 22, 2007 | Greg Cima

Posted on 12/10/2007 2:44:17 PM PST by Coleus

BLOOMINGTON -- A former minister and substitute teacher accused of sexually abusing teenage boys won’t go to trial in December because of a defense move to try to get concurrent sentences if he is convicted in state and federal courts. Defense attorney Steve Skelton asked that the state trial of James Love be delayed because of federal child pornography charges pending in Peoria. He said his client has a better chance of receiving a concurrent sentence if he pleads or is found guilty on the local charges after the federal trial, rather than before.

The state charges say he sedated and abused four teenage boys in his home in Normal. The federal charges say he photographed them. Love, who has pleaded not guilty to the state and federal charges, had been scheduled to go to trial Dec. 10. Judge Kevin Fitzgerald also ruled that Love will be allowed supervised visits with his 14-year-old son. Skelton said in requesting those visits that his client and client’s son have both suffered as a result.

Fitzgerald agreed with a request by Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Brooks that those visits be supervised with employees of the Department of Children and Family Services or the Baby Fold. She said it is clear Love and his son miss one another, but supervision is appropriate. Love’s wife, Nicole, said in court her husband and son had not been allowed to speak to one another since Love’s arrest in May. Love’s next hearing in federal court is Nov. 28. He remains jailed in the McLean County jail in lieu of posting $40,000.


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: illinois; molestation; pastor; protestant; protestantpastor; sexabuse; sexualabuse; sodomy

1 posted on 12/10/2007 2:44:19 PM PST by Coleus
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To: Coleus
Love allegedly sedated and molested four teenage boys at his home. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated battery and aggravated criminal sexual abuse,

Before his May arrest, Love was a minister at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington. He also worked at State Farm and as a substitute teacher in Bloomington and Normal schools.

He was a Baptist preacher and a substitute teacher, but the molestation "allegedly" occurred in his home and not at ether place of employment. Does that make him a public school abuser, a pastor abuser, or just a molester?

2 posted on 12/10/2007 2:54:26 PM PST by Alex Murphy ("Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time." - Amos 5:13)
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To: Coleus; metmom

I’m glad that some of these stories are getting out there. The “Priest” stories got out there because the media hates the Catholic Church.

Looks like more are coming for both schools and other denominations. They say, that in schools, this happens at least once a week in the United States.


3 posted on 12/10/2007 3:17:50 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Five stories posted back-to-back in just 45 minutes last night, and then two more this afternoon. Every one is about a non-Catholic pastor or minister. Every one is a tragedy. And not one was about a public school teacher.

Washington County (AL) pastor charged with sex crime - The Rev. Leonard Frazier, 55, of Stonewall Baptist Church
Youth minister charged in suburban Pittsburgh teen's death - Keith Owens, of Petra International Ministries
Broward minister charged in teen's pregnancy - the Rev. Cory Cortezis Lewis of the Church Of God By Faith
Pastor in Puyallup charged with child molesting - The Rev. Forrest Lee Hudson, 65, pastor of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church
Child molester sentenced to 10 years in prison,Carmel church elder who admitted molesting girl - Terry Van Gorp, elder at College Park Church
Pastor Arrested for Making Terroristic Threat - Paster Wanda Radford of Jesus Real Ministry
Former minister's abuse trial delayed - James Love, minister at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church

4 posted on 12/10/2007 4:06:40 PM PST by Alex Murphy ("Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time." - Amos 5:13)
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To: Salvation

what happens in schools pales in comparison to the church. school abuse cases are reported almost daily but the press usually does not follow up on them and doesn’t add up the statistics or make note of transfers. FReeper jasoncann has a “naughtyteacherlist” ping list of just the females which often go unreported.


5 posted on 12/10/2007 4:06:58 PM PST by Coleus (Happy Chanukah)
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To: Alex Murphy

And not one was about a public school teacher >>>>

you can start your own list as FReeper “jasoncann” has one for just the female teachers “naughtyteacherlist” and that enough keeps him very busy without posting the males. You forget to post the “adult stem cell” threads I posted to. I am usually notified to these stories by an outside source so they will be posted in “bulk”.


6 posted on 12/10/2007 4:10:28 PM PST by Coleus (Happy Chanukah)
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To: Coleus
I don’t see Protestants saying anything about celibacy or married ministers here. Maybe that means that celibacy is not the problem — as Catholics have long contended. Go figure???

Double standard?? or Hypocrisy??

7 posted on 12/10/2007 4:48:22 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
I’m glad that some of these stories are getting out there. The “Priest” stories got out there because the media hates the Catholic Church. No, the Catholic Church gave the media a great story because of the cover up it did for years. If the Church had turned a priest in when it happened (rather than just do a transfer), there wouldn't have been any story like there was when it all came out. Don't blame others for the mistake the Church made.
8 posted on 12/10/2007 5:33:53 PM PST by frtom (If you die right now, could you face our Lord Jesus eye to eye?)
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To: frtom

Just think what would have happened had all those parents not sold out their children for 30 pieces of silver and remained quiet.


9 posted on 12/10/2007 7:44:55 PM PST by A.A. Cunningham
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To: A.A. Cunningham

I don’t understand what you are stating.


10 posted on 12/10/2007 7:50:50 PM PST by frtom (If you die right now, could you face our Lord Jesus eye to eye?)
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