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Church leader arrested on sex charges in northeast N.M.
By DEBORAH BAKER
Associated Press Writer
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AP Photo/HO
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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- The leader of an apocalyptic sect in northeastern New Mexico was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony sex crimes against children.
State police arrested Wayne Bent, 66, on three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, said Department of Public Safety spokesman Peter Olson.
Bent was being held on $500,000 bond at the Union County Detention Center in Clayton and was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
According to the affidavit for the arrest warrant, Bent is alleged to have touched three girls in 2006 and 2007. All of them were under 18 at the time, and one of them was 12.
Bent, who goes by the name of Michael Travesser and claims to be the Messiah, is the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, whose members moved in 2000 to a remote, former ranch near the Colorado line that they call Strong City.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CHURCH_CHILDREN_SEIZED?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
Church leader arrested on sex charges in northeast N.M.
By DEBORAH BAKER
Associated Press Writer
AP Photo
AP Photo/HO
Watch Related Video
Apocalyptic New Mexico Church Leader Arrested
Advertisement
Latest News
Church leader arrested on sex charges in northeast N.M.
Police: 2-month-old left in car while parents watch Derby
Georgia man sentenced to death for 2004 slayings
Buy AP Photo Reprints
Your Questions Answered
Ask AP: Slippery questions about oil, gas and biofuels
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- The leader of an apocalyptic sect in northeastern New Mexico was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony sex crimes against children.
State police arrested Wayne Bent, 66, on three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, said Department of Public Safety spokesman Peter Olson.
Bent was being held on $500,000 bond at the Union County Detention Center in Clayton and was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
According to the affidavit for the arrest warrant, Bent is alleged to have touched three girls in 2006 and 2007. All of them were under 18 at the time, and one of them was 12.
Bent, who goes by the name of Michael Travesser and claims to be the Messiah, is the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, whose members moved in 2000 to a remote, former ranch near the Colorado line that they call Strong City.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CHURCH_CHILDREN_SEIZED?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US