Pastor convicted of molesting a teenage boy

[Ian David]

Thursday, March 15, 2007

A local pastor convicted of molesting a teenage boy he once tutored was sentenced to 10 years probation on Wednesday.

The Rev. Kenneth Larry Payne, 70, was arrested in May 2006 after a 17-year-old told authorities Payne had touched the victim's penis and licked him in the ear. He was charged with sodomy and taking indecent liberties with a minor.

In January, Circuit Judge J. Michael Gamble found him guilty on the indecent liberties charge after a daylong bench trial.

Payne met the boy through the Homebound Learning Program offered by Amherst County Public Schools. Homebound Learning is for students who struggle in a traditional school environment. He was dismissed from that job after his arrest.

Payne was also pastor at New Prospect Church in the Pleasant View area of Amherst County for 14 years, until recently retiring.

More:
http://onanite.blogspot.com/2007/03/pastor-convicted-of-molesting-teenage.html

[mahmoud al_hazen]

1. Typical.

n/t

[Sadie4629]

2. In what way do you think that is "typical?"

It is anything but typical.

[mahmoud al_hazen]

7. Everything about the story is typical,

especially the punishment, if any. Christian America gives a wink and a nod to their endemic perverts, and grudgingly prosecutes them, if brought to light. Typical.

[Hubert Flottz]

8. I was thinking the same thing.

If that had been anyone else they'd have pulled the ten years and died in prison.

[Sadie4629]

10. Actually, pedophiles are found in all walks of life

It just seems that here on DU we can't mention Muslim pedophiles, Wiccan pedophiles, or agnostic pedophiles. We must pretend that all pedophiles are Christian, specifically "fundy" Christian.

[Richard Steele]

11. Riiiiight. Thank you for your CONCERN.

:eyes:

[CurtEastPoint]

3. and he got a light sentence based on... what? His church position?

Rev. Payne was sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison with all of that time suspended. He could face serving that time if he violates terms of his probation.

Anyone else would have the book thrown at them.

[Clark2008]

4. No - probably becasue of his age.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. New Prospect Church in Amherst County in in Virginia

10-15 miles away from Liberty Universy, Thomas Road Baptist Church, and Jerry Falwell. I know the area . . .

This is the same court jurisdiction that found that Carrie Buck was "feebleminded" ca. 1927 and therefore had no choice but to allow the State to sterilize her against her will.

So, my point: this court is down with compulsory sterilization of certain citizens, but compassionate with child molesters.

[Sadie4629]

12. 1927 was 80 years ago

I seriously doubt if you can consider this the same court.

[MountainLaurel]

13. Things there haven't changed much though

In the intervening years.

[no_hypocrisy]

17. They haven't.

It wasn't until less than 10 years ago that the Amherst County Adminstration building "renovated" which included removing two mens rooms and two womens rooms, one with a blacked-out stripe across the top of each one. Their idea of civil rights was to black out the "offending language" instead of immediately having one public restroom for each gender. I have photos as evidence.

[MountainLaurel]

18. Can't say that surprises me

One of my good friends is from there, and the stories she tells. Her father was superintendent of schools many years ago and went up with the Falwell acolytes over the issue of public school kids being released to attend church school during the middle of the school day. For his efforts, the family got death threats (they were under state police protection for a time), the kids' friends were no longer allowed to talk to them, and he was attacked in a Burger King parking lot by a local preacher.

And that doesn't even begin to cover the homophobic, racist, furriner-hatin' extended family members who are the reason she doesn't go home for holidays anymore.

[no_hypocrisy]

19. Probably still in existence, but how about this: segregated cemeteries.

Yep. So much for the myth of death being the great equalizer. When I was living in the area 25 years ago, there were separate cemeteries. One can make the argument that you bury your loved ones with their family, but c'mon!!!

[Hubert Flottz]

6. I think all that kind of shit started with...

some dude named Oral...

[mahmoud al_hazen]

9. lol! or anal!

It's amazing the horrendous crimes against children that are perpetrated and gotten-away with, under the guise of respected religions. The services at mosques have nothing in common with those of churches, where every other person is kneeling. It sounds harsh, but is entirely typical.

[The Straight Story]

14. Teachers and preachers, is anyone really surprised?

They have more access to kids than most.

Has nothing to do with beliefs, etc - plenty of secular teachers do the same thing. It has to do with people who abuse their power.

[walldude]

16. The only suprise here is probation

teachers are getting jail time and this guy walks out free :puke:

[karlrschneider]

15. Sodomy?

:eyes: