Sexual Predator over in Townhouses

I agree -- and its exactly what makes the whole sexual offender notification thing difficult to manage to. Every one of them that arrives nearby I have to be able to recognize on sight and understand the complexities of their convictions? Its unreasonable and exhausting. Thanks to all of you for researching this one for me. I'll have to agree with Ozgood...I won't be clutching T8ertot to my bosom in the Safeway if I see the guy.

 

No one mentioned that they were planning on clutching their children to their bosoms out of fear for this guy. The original posted just reminded people to be vigilant. Fine advice. Gee, no one mentioned going after the guy with pitch forks and lanterns in the night either. It doesn't have to be one extreme or the other.

I find it ironic that people bemoan the rare occurence of the sexual predator law being misapplied; when it was the public outcry over not being informed when a sexual predator moved into their neighborhood and they were not made aware of it that brought it's enactment. Similarly, the Amber Alert came about in response to a specific, horrific case. And while it is used in some cases when children were not abducted...I, for one am definitely glad that it is in use today.

No system is perfect, we live in a flawed society. But, I for one appreciate the attempt to make people aware. We can choose to listen to the alert or ignore it. Our choice.

 

Many good issues were raised by the previous discussion.

My question is why is the focus on over in TOWNHOUSES?

 

Simply because this particular person moved into one of the townhouse areas.

 

I hope my Question makes sense.

Does anyone know how the distance restriction is factored?

Lets say someone is prohibited to live less than 1,000 feet from a School is this street/surface distance or "as the crow flys"? Its a dumb question, but I am curious.

 

First, T8ergirl and I do not need to be reminded to "be vigilant", that part comes with being a responsible parent. To me, posts like this can often do more harm than good. Gets neighbors spun up and arguing with each other. It is like saying "drive safe" - NO, I think I will drive like an idiot and sideswipe a few cars and ram a cop car or two.

If it were an actual "child molester", then yeah, I would be first in line with my pitchfork. But this person is far from that. He made a mistake with a 17 year old. It certainly does not make it right what he did but my gut tells me that this girl is not as innocent as she lets on in the article.

 

Not anymore, anyway. This guy was at least 27 years old, in a trusted position as youth minister, and should never have had any kind of sexual relationship with a 17 year old. He violated the trust of the people who sent their kids to him for ministering, took advantage of a kid 10 years younger than he was, and to me that means he earned his label of sexual offender.

Should that ruin the rest of his life? I don't believe so, but I don't think it's unfair for him to have to earn the trust of his neighbors, either.

 

Wow. Just wow. Blame the victim much? You have absolutely no information to make such a claim. You don't have a daughter do you?

 

And T8erman...if someone nicely says, "Have a nice day" do you sneer at them, "No, I think I'll have a lousy one."???

 

You're quite the talent that you can tell by your gut that "this girl is not as innocent as she lets on...". Another uninformed opinion in this thread.

 

Yep. I have many talents.

And I also believe that most 17 year old girls/women are not so naive in today's world. And as I said BEFORE, it does not make it right what he did but she made choices in this too.
From the article:
"Van Wert City Police and the Van Wert County Childrens' Services agency began an investigation after allegations surfaced about a sexual relationship between Rediger and a 17-year-old female from the church. That female later confirmed that the two were having a sexual relationship."

A relationship to me means that 2 people are involved and it lasts longer then a night or 2. This alone makes me believe that she was aware of what she was doing. So I may be uninformed but at least I can read past the headlines.

 

Actually, she was still a child and he was an adult, a 27 year old man who was married. He was in a position of authority and that right there takes away her ability to choose - she probably didn't know how to stop it from happening or know how to get out of it. Yes, maybe she "knew" alot of things in today's world but a man in a position of authority is still a very powerful thing especially when you are only 17. She is not to blame in this at all.

 

The courts heard the facts of the case and found him guilty. Further, they sentenced him and required him to be a registered sex offender. The youth pastor himself said in court that he acknowledged what he did was wrong. The head of the church upon learning of the facts of the case fired this guy and revoked his ministerial credentials. The 28 year old adult youth minister committed a crime. The 17 year old girl did not. She should not be blamed.

17 year olds are still legally children and often very impressionable and easy to manipulate. Regardless, he was the legal adult. Without knowing more, I guess you can think of her as a seductress who knew what she was doing. But the courts who heard the facts of the case felt differently.

Below is the article in case links don't work.




Youth pastor receives prison sentence


Posted Friday, February 09, 2007. — View & Post Comments »




Youth pastor Aaron Rediger stood in Van Wert County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday morning and offered an acknowledgment of his guilt. Flanked by his lawyers and choking back tears, he admitted, "I know that after all this, I've been wrong."

Rediger, a former youth pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, was sentenced to two terms of two years in prison to be served concurrently with no time off for good behavior. He will also be placed on five years of post-release control. In a plea agreement, Rediger pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery, a third-degree felony.

Appearing before Judge Charles Steele, the 28-year-old Ohio City man was classified as a sexually-oriented offender. After his release from prison, he will be required to register with the sheriff of his county of residence, employment, and schooling as an offender and not to live within 1,000 feet of a school.

This classification was influenced by psychological reports which concluded that Rediger "is in the low-risk level to sexually reoffend at this time."

The charges stem from a sexual relationship between Rediger and a teenage female in his youth group, who stood in the crowded courtroom yesterday and emotionally addressed Rediger about the damage the affair caused in her life.

"I thank the court for considering in the sentencing the pain that Aaron Rediger has caused, not only in myself but in my family and my church family as well," she said. "As a result of this, I have lost not only my virginity, but also I've lost friends I never thought I would lose."

The young woman also talked about the pain she carries with her. "One of the biggest issues I struggle with currently and probably always will, is that of trust," she said.

After the relationship became known to the leadership of Liberty Baptist Church more than five months ago, Rediger was immediately fired and his ministerial credentials were revoked. The church also promised full cooperation in the investigation of the case.

In a prepared statement, Pastor Jim C. Burns, Sr. said, "This is a very sad day for all of us at Liberty Baptist Church. As Christians, we believe that God has guided Judge Steele and others in positions of authority in the decisions they have made in this case, and we support those decisions."

In arguing for a more lenient sentence, attorney William Kluge noted that Rediger had been raised and schooled in a very strict environment and Kluge said this had impacted him greatly. "Many of the cases that you see and we deal with on a regular basis are really the culmination of human nature and human weaknesses and things that affect all of us and sometimes we really can't control," Kluge asserted.

"It's easy to understand how these types of things can occur," he continued. "It doesn't justify it. And I know that Aaron realizes how this has destroyed his life.

In his statement, Burns said, "We ask for the community's prayers on behalf of the young woman, Mr. Rediger's family and the families who have been affected by these crimes."

 

Hey, I'm all for self responsibility but there's something else going on here - the normal dynamics change when there is a person of authority, a person in a position of power involved. It's a well-documented phenomenon. She is not to blame. If you don't believe me, go read the book called "Sex in the Forbidden Zone:When Men in Power-Therapists, Doctors, Clergy, Teachers and Others- Betray Women's Trust". By Peter Rutter, M.D.

 

If, as was alluded to above, this girl "wanted it" and went looking for this guy to be in a "relationship" with her.... then as the ADULT youth minister he had a RESPONSIBILITY to reach out to her parents or the head of the church. To let them know that this girl needed help because she was coming on to him.

Just doing a search to learn more about this particular incident you come across so very many similar incidents. Wow, lots of young girls wanting to get it on with these youth ministers (insert other adult man in position of authority)!

 

So, then I guess a woman who dresses in a way that is sexually attractive to a man better take "responsibility" for being raped too? Being that the woman is a "victim".

If the minister had done his job...fulfilled his responsibility...the situation would never had occurred. He was the legal adult and in charge. If he couldn't handle it, then get his boss or her parents. Of course, this all assumes that it's the girl's willingness to participate.