Pastor Faces Tougher Charges In Minnesota

[Ian David]

Black Collar Crime

07/07/2008
Pastor Faces Tougher Charges In Minnesota

Dennis Hayes' role as a pastor means he faces more severe penalties in Minnesota if found guilty of the sex crimes.

Under Minnesota law, Hayes faces second degree criminal sexual conduct because he was in a position of authority. Prosecutors say the sexual contact happened while the boy was under Hayes' custody after being signed out of the juvenile center. That charge alone carries with it the potential of 25 years in prison.

As a clergyman, Hayes faces another 10 years in prison under a different law. That law states that any member of the clergy, who committed abuse against someone seeking religious or spiritual advice, can be charged with another count of criminal sexual conduct.

<snip>

Prosecutors say the boy was meeting with Hayes on an ongoing basis to seek religious and spiritual advice, and that the sexual contact happened during one of those meetings.

More:
http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=0,71558


See prior thread:

Parishioners React To Lutheran Minister's Arrest (Watertown, Minnesota)
Topic started by IanDB1 on Jul-05-08 10:34 PM (2 replies)
Last modified by Lydia Leftcoast on Jul-06-08 11:30 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=177861

[CatholicEdHead]

1. I think it warrents the extra time

[Occam Bandage]

2. Reading down the front page of R/T,

You have eight threads in a row, none with more than one reply. It would make it easier to read this forum if you condensed these into like weekly reports or something (even though they have absolutely nothing to do with theology).

[varkam]

3. In the OP's defense...

he was instructed to place such threads in R/T by the powers that be. These threads may not have to do with theology, but they do have to do with religion. If all else fails, however, there is a "hide thread" function...

[Realityhack]

4. I hate the media! That headline is misleading at best.

And the first sentence is just plane wrong.

"Dennis Hayes' role as a pastor means he faces more severe penalties in Minnesota if found guilty of the sex crimes."
Emphisis added.

No, NO IT FUCKING DOESN'T!
The media clearly wants to play on religious peoples persecution syndrome. As a marketer I can understand that... but I hold the press to a higher standard than people selling other products.

He is facing more time because he was in a position of authority. The same for teachers, guards, police officers, etc. etc.
This isn't about religion, it's about abusing authority to take advantage of children.

Now wither that makes things any worse and warrants additional time is debatable, but I fucking hate this lets make it all about how he is singled out for being a priest BULLSHIT.

No offense to the OP intended. I know this is just a news story you brought to our attention.