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Monday, December 15, 2008
Wayne Bent Found Guilty of Criminal Sexual Contact
By Deborah Baker
Associated Press
TAOS — The leader of an apocalyptic northeastern New Mexico sect was convicted today of one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Wayne Bent, the self-described Messiah and leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, faced two counts each of criminal sexual contact of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in allegations involving 14- and 16-year old sisters in July and August 2006.
"Just as with Jesus, they've convicted an innocent man," Bent said after the verdict.
His court-appointed lawyer, Sarah Montoya, said she hopes he will allow her to appeal.
Bent was allowed to return to Strong City, the sect's compound near Clayton, pending sentencing, which is tentatively set for Dec. 29. He could face a dozen years in prison.
Bent, 67, testified last week he placed his hand on the sternums, but not the breasts, of the teenagers as they lay naked with him in separate incidents. He said he was careful that the spiritual healing exercises with the sisters not take a sexual turn.
Bent, who calls himself Michael Travesser, was acquitted on the criminal sexual contact charge involving the younger girl.
"God's in control and my heart's with Michael, and it's like wherever he goes, that's where my heart is," the younger girl, now 17, said in an interview after the verdict.
The girl, known in the church as Healed, was happy to hear Bent was found not guilty on the more serious of the counts involving her.
"It was a religious healing experience for me. ... It had nothing to do with sex," she said. "It had to do with healing to my heart."
She and Bent were allowed to meet briefly after the verdict. Montoya said that was a promise the district attorney made to the girl before the trial.
Bent said after the verdict he was falsely convicted.
"I'm the marker for the destruction of this society ... the culture just judged itself," said Bent, who said the verdict was part of God's plan.
"These encounters with these two girls were intended to offend your world and make you mad and convict me," he said.
His son, Jeff Bent, said church followers were not discouraged. "It's just part of our prophetic time that we're in," he said.
Wayne Bent has said he probably would not eat if he went to prison and that he wouldn't expect to survive the experience.
His son said Monday, "I would regard this sentence as a death sentence for him."
The girls' parents are former followers of Bent. At the time of the allegations, the daughters were living in Strong City, but the parents had moved out of the compound, although they were still church members.
Wayne Bent testified last week he "never touched any fleshy part of the breast" of the girls. He also said the girls were unclothed "because that's what they requested of me."
He said the 14-year-old came to his house late at night after he was in bed and "asked to be skin-to-skin with me." Bent said there was space between him and the girl and that he was wearing undershorts; the girl had testified she believed he was naked.
Bent was clothed when the older sister came to him in daylight hours, according to testimony.
Prosecutor Emilio Chavez told jurors in closing arguments the case was not about religion and that Bent must be treated like anyone else.
"The state's not saying any of this was for sexual gratification ... we are not saying his beliefs are wrong ... we are treating Mr. Bent the same as anyone else," the prosecutor said.
Montoya argued during her closing arguments that her client did not touch the intimate parts of the body needed for a conviction on criminal sexual contact.
Jurors had deliberated for more than five hours Friday without reaching a verdict, and state District Judge Gerald Baca sent them home for the weekend.
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