49 வயது பாஸ்டருக்கு சிறை தண்டனை கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. காரணம்?

49 வயது பாஸ்டருக்கு சிறை தண்டனை கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. காரணம்?

சிறுவர்களை பாலுறவு பலாத்காரம் செய்ததுதான்.

ஜாக்கிரதை ஜாக்கிரதை ஜாக்கிரதை

Ex-pastor sentenced for lewd conduct with minor
Floyd
Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 10:36 PM MDT

ST. ANTHONY -- Reuben Elmer Floyd Jr., 49, has been sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison for lewd conduct with a minor. He was pastor of Ashton Bible Church and a substitute teacher for Fremont School District.

The sentencing took place Tuesday at the Fremont County Courthouse.

Prior to the sentencing, 7th District Judge Greg Moeller told Floyd he had betrayed a public trust as a teacher and a pastor.

"As a minister, you were supposed to be a shepherd to a flock, and you became a wolf," he said

Moeller also imposed a $5,000 fine along with restitution to pay for any counseling for the victim, a boy whom court records say was 15 years old in September 2008 when the crimes were committed.

In addition, Floyd will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.

The potential penalty for lewd conduct with a child under 16 is up to life imprisonment and up to $50,000 in fines.

Floyd will receive credit for the time he has served since he was arrested.

Floyd's attorney, Paul Butikofer, noted that Floyd had no previous criminal record and cited a psycho-sexual evaluation that was required by the court that contained a recommendation for supervised probation along with counseling.

Assistant Fremont County Prosecutor Gilman Gardner said the entire case was troubling because of Floyd's position as a substitute teacher and religious leader.

"He was using his position to groom other victims," he said.

At the sentencing Floyd testified in his own behalf, and asked for forgiveness from the community and leniency from the court.

"I realize I have done wrong and I take responsibility for it," he said.

Floyd was arrested on March 9 after an investigation that began that day, and he was charged with four counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16.

On March 24, Floyd pleaded guilty to one of the charges against him and in accordance with a plea agreement with the court, the other three counts were dropped.

At a preliminary hearing that day, Floyd waived the hearing and requested that a change-of-plea hearing be held in District Court that afternoon.

As part of a plea agreement, the court agreed to consider a recommendation that the sentencing not exceed that recommended in the presentence report, but the recommendation was not binding.

The court also agreed not to file additional charges from the initial police investigation unless other victims were identified, but no additional charges were filed.

After the sentencing, Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries, whose office assisted the Ashton Police Department with the investigation, said, "I feel the sentence was appropriate for the crime that was committed. It removes from society a predator who has shown the tendency to prey on young people."

Butikofer said his next step is to advise Floyd about his appeal options.

"He'll make a decision on those," he said.

JOSEPH LAW