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Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sect Leader Says Prosecution, Trial Were Flawed
Associated Press
SANTA FE — The leader of a religious sect convicted of sexual misconduct with two teenagers says his prosecution and trial were flawed.
Wayne Bent's lawyer has told the state Court of Appeals that the grand jury that indicted him was meeting improperly and wasn't allowed to hear important evidence.
John McCall says the trial judge wrongly limited the trial's duration and the number of defense witnesses and allowed prejudicial questioning of Bent. And he contends the instructions given to the jury that convicted Bent were flawed.
McCall's written brief says Bent's trial lawyer should have used a religious freedom defense because the touching was part of a healing ritual.
Bent is in prison for criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
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