Posted on 05/12/2024 9:57:18 PM PDT by Morgana
A pastor in Wichita Falls, Texas, has been found guilty on six charges of indecency with a child by contact.
The jury deliberated less than an hour before finding Ronnie Killingsworth, the 79-year-old pastor of Rephidim Church, guilty, the Wichita Falls Times Record News reported.
Killingsworth elected to have the jury impose his punishment, who sentenced him to 84 years in prison and $60,000 in fines, KFDX reported.
The first four prison terms — totaling 42 years — are to be served concurrently with the sentences for counts 5 and 6 to be served consecutively after the conclusion of the first terms.
According to the indictment, Killingsworth committed the crimes against three female victims under the age of 17 from 2000 to 2011.
The victims took the stand during the trial to testify about Killingsworth’s actions.
The first victim claimed he touched her inappropriately when she was five years old, but she never told her mother because she was embarrassed.
A second victim told the jury that Killingsworth had touched her inappropriately, shown her pornographic images, and had tried to kiss her.
A third victim said Killingsworth took her in his office when she was 11 years old, yelled at her about her behavior, and touched her sexually. When she reported the incident to her mother, she said her mother slapped her across the face.
Killingsworth testified in his own defense, denying the allegations. Killingsworth’s wife Linda also took the stand, calling the allegations “ridiculous” and claiming that the only girls ever in Killingsworth’s office were the couple’s daughter and granddaughter.
According to media reports, a large portion of the testimony during the trial related to the church’s doctrine and practices, including teachings about the “rapture” and a practice of “separation” from those who chose to leave the church.
Apparently, the couple no longer has contact with their daughter, who identifies as gay. “The Bible is the highest priority. We aren’t willing to compromise our priorities,” Linda Killingsworth said of the separation from their daughter.
The church’s finances also came up during the trial. Prosecutor Bill Vasser noted that Rephidim Church had $1.2 million in cash in 2018, and Killingsworth received a $280,000 bonus in a recent year.
Vasser and his fellow prosecutor Dayve Jo Estes are from Tarrant County. They were brought in to conduct the trial in an effort to avoid a possible conflict of interest—the Killingsworths’ son, Allen, is a detective in the Wichita Falls Police Department.
Now do Biden...
Wichita Falls. The worst place I have ever lived.
Depending on the age difference and the power difference, people who study adult-to-child sex abuse of boys have found that some boys are gravely harmed by statutory rape. A child cannot give consent because of an immature mind. The targeted male child experiences coercion, seduction and a sense of being overpowered by a woman. Especially if social media leaks get involved, the teasing, bullying or shunning that goes on during or afterward with the other kids or their parents can be very damaging.
As for teasing: if word gets out he'd be a hero to his male friends.To all male students for that matter. Don't know about the girls.
OK...yes,the boy could be damaged in a certain set of circumstances. But it's hard to imagine a female teacher taking a nasty attitude or any attitude that would cause the kid to think of the encounter as anything but "epic".
Your imagination is at odds with the actual research. But go on, entertain yourself.
The Sexual Abuse of Boys Is Not About ‘Getting Lucky’ and We Need to Stop Promoting This Myth
They are damaged by it. It shapes their future experiences and views about women.
Regardless its an adult in charge over a minor. The adult knows what they are doing. They are using a minor to satisfy their sexual urges. Further it destroys a marriage when the adult female is married.
So regardless if you can personally grasp and understand the law, it doesnt matter if the minor is willing or not. When has that reason ever saved an adult male from consequences? Many girls are happy for the attention and fun from an older male in a position of power. The girls “are in love” often. Why aren’t the men saved by “well they weren’t damaged, they wanted to be with the guy” argument?
The reason is it doesnt matter. Male and female adults know what they are doing, it doesn’t matter if the minor consents because they can’t give consent and ifurther its immaterial to the laws on the books regarding sex with minors. And then also tack on they are in positions of power over these minors so theres a power element there.
I hold this opinion because I have a pretty good understanding of the *immense* psychological differences between young girls and boys...as well as other differences.
I'm not saying young male/adult female contact is good but I'd equate the different scenarios I've mentioned to stealing $5,000 from a gas station at gunpoint and stealing a $5 sandwich from a Price Chopper supermarket.
I disagree. And you minimize female sex predators doing so. They are adults and should be held just as accountable as men. For gods sake they have come after the boys for child support if they get knocked up.
You have an incorrect view of whats going on. For boys its an achievement to get a girl to want to make out/have sex, it requires effort and value on their part.
What we’re talking about is an adult female predztor who targets a particular boy they have decided they want to have sex with. Its no real achievement for a boy to “get” a female sex predator who’s already decided they want to have sex with that boy.
You have a flawed view of reality that these two scenarios are the same thing. They certainly are not.
Which I never asserted. My original post on the topic stated that the circumstances vary.
I hope you do read the articles and develop a better understanding that not all boys would share your reaction or point of view, and that child sex abuse can have lasting negative consquences for many boys—ven SOME of the ones who think it's only about bragging rights. That may be bravado to cover up or deny real disfunction in various areas of adult life.
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