Judge protects Jehovah’s Witness serial child abuser

[TonyGosling]

Jehovah’s Witness sex offender is spared jail
Marcus Leroux

A Jehovah’s Witness who used his position in the Church to sexually abuse young children walked free from court yesterday.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2317335.ece


Michael Porter was entrusted with children as a ministerial servant of the church in Clevedon, Somerset. At Bristol Crown Court yesterday he admitted 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on children, one of whom was an 18-month-old baby, over 14 years.

Judge Tom Crowther decided not to jail Porter and instead issued a three-year community rehabilitation order after the court was told that he had undergone therapy.

Porter, 38, was also banned from working with anyone under the age of 18 and placed on the Sex Offenders Register. Yesterday, as police said they were considering an appeal, Porter’s sister, Tina Hughes, led criticism of the sentence.

“He blamed his childhood for the attacks, which was a lie, but the judge ate it all up,” Ms Hughes said, adding: “There’s no justice for the victims. No closure. He had no right to leave that courtroom.”

Ms Hughes described her brother as an “evil monster”, who “can’t have a soul”.

Porter, who was supported in court by his wife, gave himself up when one of his victims threatened to go to police. He moved from Clevedon to London in 2000, where he is thought to be an elder at the Mill Hill Kingdom Hall, Barnet.

Dan Norris, a Labour MP who has campaigned for the introduction of a US-style “Megan’s Law” letting communities know the whereabouts of convicted child sex offenders, said yesterday’s decision would increase the public perception that judges have become out of touch.

Mr Norris, a former child protection officer, said: “It’s deeply disturbing that a man that has committed serious offences against children has avoided prison. This judge’s decision will reinforce the public view that child sex offenders are treated far too lightly and that our judges are out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people.”

Norman Brennan, founder of the Victims of Crime Trust, branded the sentence as a licence to offend.

“If we’re to reassure parents and send out a strong deterrent message to paedophiles, then those convicted should face prison sentences that both punish and deter others,” he said.

“When the judiciary fail to impose such penalties they give paedophiles a licence to reoffend.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses who fail to live by the religion’s strict moral code and beliefs run the risk of being thrown out of the congregation, which is called “disfellowshipping”, the Witnesses’ highest form of discipline.

A spokesman for Somerset and Avon Police said: “We are pleased that the person responsible for these serious offences has been brought to justice and hope it will provide some sort of closure for the victims.

“It is too early to say at the moment whether there will be an appeal. This will be discussed with the CPS. There are a large number of victims to consider, many of whom just want to draw a line under the whole matter.”

[fish5133]

Possibly judge and Porter both freemasons. or both "Gary Glitters"

[paul wright]

I once had a strong internet friendship with Roberta from Wisconsin here
I was a little put off by her two boys- murdered by Jehovah Witness elders,with links into the highest ranks of Wisconsin governorship, who had been abusing them, story, while she identified too strongly with me and mine
Eventually I lost touch, but here is a trace of the story
http://lambsmarch.yuku.com/forum/viewtopic/id/841
These two kids were apparently murdered, staged suicides, after years of abuse by JW church elders

[TonyGosling]

Or possibly both?

Nice to see you back fish after your computer mysteriously packed up.

These two are almost certainly connected through some secret society network.
I would imagine nothing this particular judge Tom Crowther says or does can ever be taken seriously again. He's quite clearly now a discredited judge plain and simple. Couldn't have been exposed in a clearer fashion.
Would it perchance have been his final judgement before he retired? Unfortunately not.

[fish5133]

This is the text of a letter sent to all Presiding Overseers in the UK. It was given to an elder by his PO. This elder was so shocked by what he read he had two copies made and had them notarised by a solicitor as true copies We met this elder the same day. He showed us the original so we could verify its authenticity ourselves, and he gave us both copies. He made two small alterations to the copies. He obliterated a two-letter code that preceded the date. This identified the congregation. (We have substituted [XX] in its place.) He does not wish to identify his congregation at this time because of the potential repercussions to the PO who inadvertantly broke the Society's instructions by letting the letter out of his possession. (See the Society's PS at the end.) [Note: Capitalisation and Boldface as per the original.]





CERTIFIED A TRUE COPY
…………………………….
GARTH RIGBY & CO.
SOLICITORS
ASHTON-IN-MAKERFIELD


WATCH TOWER
BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF BRITAIN
THE RIDGEWAY LONDON NW7 1RN
TELEPHONE 020 8906 2211
[XX] June 1, 2001


ALL BODIES OF ELDERS

Dear Brothers:


In our letter To All Bodies of Elders dated [XX] January 1, 2001, we gave instructions relating to disfellowshipping and disassociation records, and files relating to child molestation. We thank you for all your hard work in complying with this necessary and important direction so that the government's deadlines as incorporated in the Data Protection Act 1998 can be met.

Part of the direction given concerned creating a list entitled "Child Protection-Psalm 127:3." In connection with this List we have had a number of enquiries as to who should appear on it. Also, as you will appreciate, Caesar's law does not stand still and this at times necessitates adjustments. We are pleased to provide clarification as to the use of the List and how records can be kept to enable our children to be properly protected in the congregation. - Isaiah 32:1, 2.

Those who have confessed to child molestation, or who have been found guilty of child molestation by the congregation on the basis of two or more credible witnesses, should appear on the Child Protection List. (For a definition of child molestation see paragraph 3 of our letter To All Bodies of Elders dated April 15, 1997.) Also, those who have been convicted by a court of crimes that constitute child abuse should be included on the List. If necessary, additional information may be kept in a sealed envelope in the congregation's confidential file as described below. If such an individual moves to another congregation, the procedure found in paragraph 3 on page 2 of the April 15, 1997, letter should be followed.

There is one exception to the above direction: The elders may have written to the branch office and given full details about a former child abuser who is currently serving as an elder or ministerial servant. In such a case, if the branch office has decided that he can be appointed or continue serving in a position of trust because the sin occurred many years ago and because he has lived an exemplary life since then, his name should not appear on the List, nor is it necessary to pass on information about the brother's past sin if he moves to another congregation unless contrary instructions have been given by the branch. If therefore, such an appointed man moves to another congregation a letter confirming the move should be sent, addressed to the Society's Legal Department.

There are, however, many other situations that are connected with the abuse of a child. For example, there may be just one eyewitness, and the brother denies the allegation. (Deuteronomy 19:15; John 8:17) Or, he may be under active investigation by the secular authorities for alleged child abuse though the matter has not yet been established. Then again, a young child might be abused by someone who himself is a minor, perhaps in his pre- or early-

ALL BODIES OF ELDERS
June 1, 2001
Page 2

teens. In these and similar cases no entry will be made on the Child Protection List. Rather, information should be kept in a sealed envelope in the congregation's confidential file as described below. When such individuals move, the Congregation Service Committee should write a letter addressed to the Society's Legal Department seeking advice as to whether to communicate the details to the new congregation.

Keeping information relating to child abuse in a sealed envelope in the congrega- -tion's confidential file: Only a brief note should be kept. This would show the name of the molester or alleged molester. If known, the following information should also be recorded: The name(s) of the victim(s) or alleged victim(s), the relationship of the offender to the victim(s), and how the matter was brought to the attention of the elders. The date the matter came to light, and the names of all the elders who were involved in some way or another would be noted. Facts such as when the alleged offence(s) took place, the period of time involved, and the ages of the alleged molester and victim(s) at the time of the incidents can be recorded. Make a simple statement of whether the allegation(s) amounted to uncleanness, loose conduct, or porneia as defined in Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock, pages 92-4. Do not record details other than those mentioned in this paragraph. Alternatively, if a written allegation is made by the victim, then this should be kept in the confidential file and, depending on the contents of the letter, there may be no need for the elders to write anything further. The only information that should appear on the outside of the envelope is the person's name, the date the matter came to light, and the names of the elders involved.

Elders do their utmost to fulfil the serious responsibility of protecting children from harm. The cleanness of Jehovah's organization needs to be preserved while, at the same time, we conform to Caesar's laws respecting the handling of sensitive information. As well as providing guidance for your existing records, the instructions in this letter will also apply to situations that arise in the future and that are connected with child molestation.

We send you our warm Christian greetings.

Your brothers,

Watch Tower B. & T. Society of Britain
[Official stamp appears here.]


PS to Presiding overseer: As soon as possible arrange to have this letter read out to the body of elders. Following this the Congregation Service Committee should meet to review the Child Protection List to make sure it complies with the direction found in this letter. If it is found necessary to remove a person's name from the Child Protection List rather than attempting to obliterate the name, please make a new List, destroying the old one.



http://www.reachouttrust.org/articles/jw/jwpaedo.htm