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Church leader arrested on sex charges in northeast N.M.
By DEBORAH BAKER, AP
SANTA FE, N.M. — The leader of an apocalyptic sect was arrested Tuesday on sex charges and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said.
Authorities charged Wayne Bent with three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, said Sgt. Bobbie Long of the Clayton Police Department.
Authorities did not say whether the charges were related to the recent removal of three children — two girls and a boy, all under 18 — from the compound in an area near the Colorado line.
Bent, who goes by the name of Michael Travesser and claims to be the Messiah, is the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, which moved to the site in 2000. He was picked up Tuesday at the remote, former ranch where he and his followers live.
Bent, 66, was being held in the Union County Detention Center in Clayton, Long said.
A posting on the church's Web site attributed to Bent's grown son, Jeff Bent, said his father was arrested on "false charges."
Bent has acknowledged having sex with followers — including his daughter-in-law — and lying naked with virgins. He said the virgins asked for sex, but he refused.
In a posting on the church's Web site, he denied that there was any molestation of children or adults at the community, which Bent's followers call Strong City. A former member of the sect has estimated there are about 50 people on the compound. The three children removed last month are believed to have been the only minors there.
Bent accused the state of kidnapping the children.
A posting attributed to Bent on the church's Web site Monday said:
"Jesus had not committed any crimes, so the authorities had to invent some crimes to crucify him over. It is the same for me also. I have committed no crimes, but many crimes are being imagined and concocted in the minds of men to try and kill me again."
Bent had predicted the end of the world last Oct. 31.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
By DEBORAH BAKER, AP
SANTA FE, N.M. — The leader of an apocalyptic sect was arrested Tuesday on sex charges and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said.
Authorities charged Wayne Bent with three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, said Sgt. Bobbie Long of the Clayton Police Department.
Authorities did not say whether the charges were related to the recent removal of three children — two girls and a boy, all under 18 — from the compound in an area near the Colorado line.
Bent, who goes by the name of Michael Travesser and claims to be the Messiah, is the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, which moved to the site in 2000. He was picked up Tuesday at the remote, former ranch where he and his followers live.
Bent, 66, was being held in the Union County Detention Center in Clayton, Long said.
A posting on the church's Web site attributed to Bent's grown son, Jeff Bent, said his father was arrested on "false charges."
Bent has acknowledged having sex with followers — including his daughter-in-law — and lying naked with virgins. He said the virgins asked for sex, but he refused.
In a posting on the church's Web site, he denied that there was any molestation of children or adults at the community, which Bent's followers call Strong City. A former member of the sect has estimated there are about 50 people on the compound. The three children removed last month are believed to have been the only minors there.
Bent accused the state of kidnapping the children.
A posting attributed to Bent on the church's Web site Monday said:
"Jesus had not committed any crimes, so the authorities had to invent some crimes to crucify him over. It is the same for me also. I have committed no crimes, but many crimes are being imagined and concocted in the minds of men to try and kill me again."
Bent had predicted the end of the world last Oct. 31.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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