HiddenMysteries: Christianity Today: Pastor GUILTY of Sexual Abuse of a Child THREE TIMES!

PARKERSBURG — Three consecutive one-year jail sentences were imposed Friday on a former Wood County pastor.

By JEFFREY SAULTON

Jeff Nolte, 41, formerly of Williamstown, was sentenced after his October plea to three misdemeanor charges in a plea agreement. Nolte pleaded guilty to two counts of contributing to the delinquency and neglect of a minor and one count of battery.

Assistant county prosecutor Sean Francisco said one of the contributing counts involved serving a minor alcohol and the other included showing pornographic materials. He said the battery charge included inappropriate touching of a child in a sexual nature.

As part of the plea agreement, Nolte will be required to register for life as a sex offender. Nolte was indicted by a special session of the Wood County Grand Jury in July 2006 and the charges were dismissed Jan. 30 without prejudice due to technical errors. He was re-indicted by a special session of the grand jury on March 26. He was charged with three counts each of displaying obscene material to a minor, use of obscene material with intent to seduce a minor, sexual abuse by a custodian and third-degree sexual assault.

Wood County Circuit Judge Robert Waters rejected a motion for probation or alternative sentencing. In denying the motion, Waters said the acts, which took place over several months in 2000 when the victim was 14 years of age, were tragic for all involved, the victim, the victim’s family and the community. Nolte was pastor of the Sand Hill United Methodist Church and the prosecution said the events took place at the church’s parsonage.

“These were not isolated events,” Waters said. “It is important to point out for the community that statements from the victim who came forward were corroborated by two other young men on the type of conduct.”

Waters said the charges did not address all the issues, stating Nolte violated his roles of authority and trust. Waters said Nolte told the Bishop of the United Methodist Church there was no alcohol at the parsonage and then admitted to the charge.

“Teens look up to pastors as a role model and see them as trusted persons,” he said. “This has been damaging to all involved.”

Prior to sentencing, the victim’s parents spoke and both called Nolte a manipulator and stated he was the reason they can no longer attend the church they considered their home. The victim’s mother said, “I lay the ultimate demise of my marriage at your feet.”

Both parents said they have been shunned by those at the church who support Nolte and said they feel as if some are trying to shift the blame to them. The victim’s father said Nolte was able to persuade the church’s board to dismiss the allegations and began damage control on the situation.

The mother said her son lived in fear the truth would be known and will suffer from scars from the incident for life.

“While he is still a young man, I see the scars he will have to deal with for the rest of his life,” she said.

Nolte’s wife, Linda, asked for her husband to be placed on home confinement, stating she needed his assistance in raising their two sons, one of which is autistic. Waters said while the court sympathized with her plight, he said the court had to make sure justice was served and that could only be through a severe penalty.

Nolte’s attorney, Bill Merriman, made a motion for a stay of execution of the sentence and to allow Nolte to self-report to the North Central Regional Jail on Dec. 26. Waters denied the motion stating he could see no purpose for the stay and the victim and all others involved needed closure in the case.

Francisco said the state went with the plea agreement for several reasons. He said one was the victim said he feels sorry for Nolte and his family and he wanted to avoid a trial.

“He (the victim) is still close with people there,” he said. “He said he feels sorry for Nolte and wants to move on.”

Francisco said the victim is now married and has a child. He said Nolte agreed to plead to the charges, register as a sex offender and exposed himself to a jail sentence. He added Nolte has also been indicted by the United Methodist Council.

Also charged in the case was Steven Richard Benyo Jr., 36, Route 2, Box 433, Wheeling, who was indicted on two counts each of displaying obscene material to a minor and use of obscene material with intent to seduce a minor and three counts of third-degree sexual assault. Benyo was indicted by the January grand jury but the charges were dismissed March 7 without prejudice on a motion from the state due to technical errors.

Benyo was re-indicted by a special session of the grand jury on March 26. He faces trial in January.

http://www.newsandsentinel.com

Christianity Today: Pastor GUILTY of Sexual Abuse of a Child THREE TIMES!

Saturday, December 22 2007 @ 07:44 PM CST