Posted on 06/25/2014 4:44:46 PM PDT by wonkowasright
A Kentucky church that hired a pastor with full knowledge that he's a registered sex offender, is now the scene of an another alleged crime in which the minister is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy who attended the church.
Roy Neal Yoakem, who leads the New Gospel Outreach Church in Scottsville, Kentucky, allegedly raped a 14-year-old boy at the church and police believe that another incident occurred in a nearby town, reported WSMV.
"He's a predator and he doesn't need to be on the street. I'm glad we got him," Detective Chad Keen told WBKO.
According to Keen, the boy's mom, a church attender, discovered "graphic messages and photos from Yoakem on his phone."
"They were along the lines of really, really affectionate. There was some emotion in them. He was calling him a liar and telling him he didn't have any feelings for him anymore," Keen said.
Yoakem, 46, who is married and has a 14-year-old son himself, was a registered sex offender when he was hired by the church roughly three years ago.
"When he first became pastor about two and-a-half, three years ago, he informed the church of that right off," Stephen Bratcher, the interim pastor at New Gospel Outreach Church told WSMV. "He explained that those allegations were false."
The church took Yoakem at his word and Bratcher defended the hire.
"We're firm believers in the Bible, so if God's forgiven you, then we're in no position to treat you otherwise," Bratcher said.
Keen said that he believes that the teenage boy was not Yoakem's only victim.
"This is through the victim that I talked to, that there's another victim in Bowling Green that I'm going to have to speak with that Mr. Yoakem's been doing this to as well," Keen said.
Yoakem joined New Gospel Outreach Church after Billy Minix, the church's long-time pastor, was accused of embezzling $300,000.
Yoakem was arrested on several charges, including rape and sodomy. The former pastor could be heading to federal court because the alleged sexual abuse transpired in both Kentucky and in Tennessee. Yoakem is set to be extradited to Tennessee later this month.
Wow, they sure can pick 'em.
You already had him, you idiot, and you let him go.
God forgave him? Did God send a letter saying this?
“”We’re firm believers in the Bible, so if God’s forgiven you, then we’re in no position to treat you otherwise,” Bratcher said.”
This leaves me almost speechless. What about their duty to protect the vulnerable in their church? For crying out loud, a registered sex offender. I’m going to an all day seminar and getting a back ground check so I can work with children at my church.
If they believed he was not guilty of sex with a teenaged boy, as they claim, then what did God need to forgive him for, other than the general run of sins-that-are-not-crimes?
bump
“We’re firm believers in the Bible, so if God’s forgiven you, then we’re in no position to treat you otherwise,” Bratcher said.”
That doesn’t mean you should give him authority over young boys. Exactly how many sex offenders offend just once? It’s a sick, compulsive behavior that you can’t just “get over”.
I don’t understand the judges and parole boards that release these predators; the problem is playing catch-and-release with people who are a danger to society. I’d be happy with life sentences for those who harm children (I’d be happier with the death penalty, but the Supremes incorrectly ruled that Old Sparky is only constitutional for treason or murder).
Generally don’t unorganized(bottom up) congregation members vote in an election? so the whole group knew?
It is pretty disgusting. It goes to show how human emotions can really screw things up. I’m sure he weepingly told them of how it was false and this and that, and they bought it hook, line, and sinker.
Bankrupt the ‘church’; bankrupt its officers, and for good measure, bankrupt the members.
I have know people like the board that hired this guy. Just gibber a bit about Jesus, claim an anointing, cry a little and you get the keys to the kingdom. Ridiculous.
Quit asking logical questions. How dare you oppose a Man of God?
There is a difference between forgiveness and shrewdness.
“We’re firm believers in the Bible, so if God’s forgiven you, then we’re in no position to treat you otherwise,” Bratcher said.
Many Christians end up hurting innocents by forgiving predators and allowing them into their lives.
Forgiving the devil doesn’t mean you have to invite the devil into your house
zWhoever picked them needs to be excommunicated.
bizarro world
Oh, sorry.
Maybe they believed the misinformation that only an unmarried man can be a predatory homosexual.
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