DISQUS

Michelle Mybell · 3 years ago

This may be a knee-jerk, uninformed opinion, but I gotta say that I'm not totally convinced that this guy is guilty. For one, the plain-clothed officer followed the guy into the restroom, not the other way around like other predators do. Also, having been sexually assaulted before, I also tried to placate my attacker by pretending to go along with the "plan," and also tried to distract him by playing dumb and asking questions.

The fact that the guy's medical condition was corroborated by his wife and his doctor says a lot. Perhaps this guy is just guilty of terrible judgment by not using a friggin' stall or some other more private place to do his business. It's not my place to assume guilt or innocense since I wasn't on the jury, but the guy's defense argument is not really farfetched. I hope the guy is really innocent, for his sake.

Anonymous · 3 years ago

I'm inclined to agree with Michelle, and wonder if this was posted on exChristian to mock the minister as an example of how even pious Christians can fall: but we already all know that. It happens everywhere and says nothing about the weakness of Christianity, only of human beings. What's the point?

Avie · 3 years ago

At first, I was going to say, "What a pervert. He got what he deserved." But as I read on, I'm not convinced he's guilty.

To me, it sounds like a terrible miscommunication. Kind of like in the movie "Hoodwinked", only with two people here instead of four.

Baofu · 3 years ago

I guess thats the only reason this article was posted. Such simplistic examples should be used carefully, however, as this is merely a small crime, if any malice on the defendant's part was intended. You don't want too many of these articles cropping up like that. We already know how far such pastors can fall from grace. Just be careful about which articles to use.

Besides, the penalty is small. The minister should have an excommunication warning slapped on him or something a bit harsher to that respect on that side of retribution.

Arthur · 3 years ago

Excommunication warning, I don't know. Maybe his employers don't share the opinion of the judge, and then there's no reason for that. I also think he's probably innocent, even though his reply to the question concerning the high risk activity alone is perhaps slightly suspicious. He did not misunderstand THAT question, but answered he was aware he had been engaging in a high risk activity. What high risk activity? If because his friend was murdered at a public restroom he henceforth regarded going there a high risk activity, he doesn't have great abilities of abstraction and logical thinking. But anyway, one can't say if he's guilty or not, a court should be better equipped to pass reliable judgements than laymen and -women having read this post. Should, at least.

infidel666 · 3 years ago

Jesus Christ he's guilty, get over it.
There is a big difference between jerking off and trying to coax yourself to piss. Besides they have it on TAPE!

infidel666 · 3 years ago

(his offer to take the man to his second residence)

JeffXL · 3 years ago

Anonymous,

No, to mock the minister (they all deserve that).

Christians lie over and over again that a belief in Gawd is necessary for morality, and that Xtians are morally superior to non-Xtians.

I don't know about this guy, but clergy keep spewing their bullshit about "sexual immorality" from their pulpits-- usually about innocuous things like homosexuality or non-marital sex.

Then the commit something like this.

Eesh.

Onanite · 3 years ago

oh the guy wanted sex, otherwise he would be in a "stall" massaging his penis. He is a pervert.

Onanite

Michelle Mybell · 3 years ago

Like I said, it's not my place to presume guilt or innocence--I wasn't on the jury. My other disclaimer was that it was my knee-jerk, uninformed opinion. I am allowed that, aren't I?

The webmaster posted this story to show that pastors and ministers are no more moral that anyone else. It's the preponderance of these stories that convince us of this. Most of the stories I've read here scream 100% guilty, this one just doesn't to me for some reason. The paralegal student part of my brain doesn't like fact that the plain-clothed officer approached HIM rather than the other way around--it smacks of entrapment.

Let's just all breathe a sigh of relief that the guy's in jail and my opinion isn't going to change that. :)

Michelle Mybell

Anonymous · 3 years ago

As an ardent anti-Christian, who believes that right-wing evangelical Christians who indoctrinate there children are committing child-abuse, I must say I'm not convinced this guy is guilty, at least according to the facts as presented in this news article. Given that information alone I would have likely voted to acquit.

That being said I have virtually no doubt in my mind that he is actually 'guilty'.

Let me make two points. First, I have a deep and prodound distrust of modern 'law enforcement'. They are generally out to frame people, meet quotas, generate revenue, generate political support, fabricate evidence, lie, extort, torture, and cheat the system in every way they possible can. There are very few good cops.

This sort of 'warden' is almost certainly a closet pervert himself, and no doubt professes string Christian faith.

Second, The 'act' this guy was doing probably shouldn't be a crime at all. It's borderline. I'm not advocating for that sort of behavior, but it really is not such a big deal. It's the same class of 'crime' as using a cell phone in a movie theatre -- it's bad behavior, and it get's you escorted away from the location. But we shouldn't bring this to public court. Remember, this guy has now got to register as a 'sex offender'.

Remember folks that it's the same damned right-wing Christians that put these laws into place in the first place. It's humorous and ironic when these totalitarian laws snare one of their own, but two wrongs don't make a right.

SpaceMonk · 3 years ago

I agree with previous anonymous.
The only reason the cop should have been there is if he's making a security patrol to guard against an actual, real murderer - or he needs to piss.
It's Big Brother bullshit.

Wondering · 3 years ago

So the pastor is scared, is only voicing suspicious sounding comments in order to put the inquisitor at ease, and yet keeps stroking his meat all the while?

I'm thinking that if I were in a smelly park restroom and some stranger struck up a conversation while grinning at my stuff, I'd excuse myself and high-tail it out of there. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't stand around making small talk and wacking my pud -- for any reason.

I notice the doctor doesn't say anything about there being a verifiable condition that would cause someone to need to yank his pole in order to take a leak. If this is a commonly known problem, I'm sure the doctor could have cited a few examples.

I'll give it this: it's definitely a strange story.

Bad park rangers? Maybe. Bad jury members? Possibly. And a bad judge too?

I wonder.

Michelle Mybell · 3 years ago

Actually Wondering, the article does say that both the man's wife and his doctor verified that the medication he takes does make it difficult to urinate, and his wife plainly stated that he has to massage himself in order to urinate. I'm sure defense counsel obtained medical records and a statement from the doctor attesting to the condition, which is routine legal investigation.

As far as this guy continuing to "stroke" himself while the officer engaged in him in conversation, it very well could be that he chose embarrassment over the possibility of a bladder infection, which can happen if you hold your urine in for too long, or if you do not empty your bladder completely. Bladder infections are extremely painful and uncomfortable and can lead to kidney infections which are life-threatening.

Also, if this restroom is such a disgusting pit and a haven for perverts, board the place up! Apparently there were "other" restrooms further up the road he could have used, why keep this one open?

My apologies for the ongoing doubt, I watch a lot of Law & Order. :)

Tim Simmons · 3 years ago

Man, the one thing that bothers me... why didn't the pastor tell the guy when he first noticed him "It's not what you think. I have a wee-wee problem and...."

Although I am inclined to say he's innocent... I don't know.

And how fast does one have to "massage" in this medical case???? Seems a difference in massage and yank. HAHHAHAHA


Let him be found guilty and learn his little lesson. Stay OUT of those damnable sewage pits.


Tim

Anonymous · 3 years ago

I'm a cop. He's guilty, he knows it and so did the jury. The Police don't do those investigations until it is clearly established as a known meeting place among these perverts.. He knew what he was doing...masterbation is just that! Massageing your prick and balls to pee! Give me a fricken break. But hey, like many x-ians they are in deniel and believe their own bull shit anyway.

Rock N Ryan

Bentley · 3 years ago

Yeah they step in it, but they cannot smell it.

Anonymous · 3 years ago

i think there may have been a mistake and rush to judgment myself...i am a firm believer in "reasonable doubt"...
i will always love to see a paster get his goose cooked, but im not so sure in this case..

calypso · 3 years ago

Although I do not go to his church, I do know him. He is an honest person. Honest as they come. He has been put on "administrative leave" while the elders decide his future. If he has to register as an offender then he will surely loose his job. He has been in that position longer than I have been in this town. They do so much there. Including a soup kitchen for the hungry. I know that he is innocent but because of how it looks to the public, he will probably have to go. That is the big shame of all of this.

Christians are supposed to care about each other. They are family to each other. They are supposed to forgive, even when not asked. They are supposed to "restore" the one who has done wrong and bring him back to where he was--or better. Now, his church and his flock will probably turn their backs on him. That, is the worst thing that is coming out of all of this. If I would ever think about trying out his church--I would not--because of them turning against him.

Never Going Back · 3 years ago

Well, Calypso, in the Bible Jesus claimed that many would come to him in that day saying, "Lord, Lord", didn't I do this or that in your name and He will say to them, "Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you." The fact that this minister runs a soup kitchen and has been a clergyman for many years does not make him innocent. It is worth considering the points that others brought up. I don't care how much he needed to pee, the fact that he didn't pull off his pecker as soon as he noticed someone else in the restroom peeking over at him grinning is a little disturbing. I mean, Hello, he was embarrassed enough to go to an out of the way restroom so he could aptly tend to his physical need away from a crowded bathroom, but he wasn't embarrassed enough to hide himself from this gawking stranger? He wasn't embarrassed enough to explain to this supposed pervert that it wasn't what it looked like? Or was he so embarrassed of his medical condition that he'd rather this stranger assume he's a homosexual exhibitionist than to just admit he had a medical condition? He's a pastor. Why would he rather be thought of by this stranger as ahomosexual? I would be concerned about my position as a Christian leader. The Bible admonishes Christians to not even give the "appearance of evil". I do not think this man should have to register as a sex offender, but he put himself in this position. He should have gone to a bathroom with stalls and "given the appearance" of taking a shit! My husband is not a minister and has the common sense to beat his meat in private, and i can assure you that if he had some "mysterious medical condition" that noone else has ever heard of he would tend to it in private.

I agree with the former post about cops though. I too, have a profound mistrust of them and all authority for that matter. Entrapment here is obvious.

Anonymous · 3 years ago

"They are supposed to "restore" the one who has done wrong and bring him back to where he was--or better."

To what, christians believe everyone is sinful, and incapable of being sinless... exactly, what state should a real christian "restore", this guy back to?

If this dudes' wife thinks he has to massage his penis to urinate, she is willing to believe anything... oh, that's right, she's the wife of a pole polishing preacher.

Karl Joe · 3 years ago

I agree with the original commenter michelle. I am an unabashed atheist but lets not let our religious differences give us a biased interpretation (I think we all know how it feels to be on the other side of the fence when it comes to religious prejudice). There is not enough evidence to prove that this guy did anything wrong.

I know from experience that when taking certain medications it can be extremely difficult to urinate even though the need is there. For example, a heavy dose of morphine will do this to you the day after taking it. So the argument that his medical condition is fraudulent is without merit, especially since his doctor testified!

Secondly, I don't understand why some people think that the fact that he continued to appease this park ranger proves that he was enjoying himself. He stated that the ranger was blocking the only exit and for all he knew he could have had a weapon. I probably would have done the same thing because it is the safest way to get out of there unharmed.

Anonymous · 3 years ago

I know this man personally. (He performed my wedding ceremony many years ago) and he obviously gives off the gay vibe, which is fine, but not for a married minister! He never said a word about his "problem" until after he met with his attorney (who also happens to be my slimy atty)... Face it, the guy was jerking off and looking for a quicky.

Anonymous · 3 years ago

I agree with the persons who said that what the guy did - whatever it was - was not such a big deal. Certainly nothing to destroy a career and life over. My understanding is that in London, England, the police no longer surveil popular gay cruising areas. And if the police there had seen this guy in a restroom doing what he did, he would have been cautioned but not charged. The strong Christian influence in the U.S. has given Americans many irrational phobias about nudity and sex. And people often continue to have those phobias even long after they have left Christianity and become atheists.

Anonymous · 3 years ago

The Unhonorable Judge Rick Wallar is a crock. The prosecution team in Hocking County is pathetic at best. Larry Beal (County Prosecutor) has recently let a man off who was in possession of child pornography. What is even more scary is that Beal's buddy Wallar is up for election county wide as the Juvenile Judge. If you vote in Hocking County this upcoming November, keep that piece of information in your mind.