Thursday, August 17, 2006

Bond set in McDonald County cult sex crime case

Bond has been set at $50,000 for a Washburn pastor and his stepbrothers who are charged with numerous felony sex charges in connection with allegations of ritual sex with minors that was conducted as part of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church's doctrine.
According to McDonald County Circuit Court documents, $50,00 bond was set for Rev. Raymond Lambert, 51, and his stepbrothers, Tom Epling, 51, and Paul Epling, 53. Bond was set at $30,000 for the other person charged, Lambert's wife and stepsister, Patty Lambert.
According to John Ford's article in the Neosho Daily News, the four are scheduled to turn themselves in to McDonald County authorities next Monday. More details on the specifics of the allegations can be found at the Daily News site.
The Grand Valley compound is located at Cecil Epling Way, named after the father of Tom Epling, Paul Epling and Patricia Lambert, and stepfather of Rev. Lambert. The late Mr. Epling was reputedly worshipped in cult-like fashion by those who lived in the compound, most of them immediate family members, cousins, and those who married into the families. The Epling family lived for a time in Newtonia before relocating to McDonald County.
The news of the arrests was broken in the Aug. 15 Turner Report.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

KODE had a pretty good story on this last night.

Anonymous said...

I want to know why Steve Geeding is allowing them to turn themselves in on Monday. Is it so they have more time to commit more of these crimes? Is it because, as he has said of others "they are pillars of the community"? (Pillars of the community DO NOT STEAL from their community!)I am NOT impressed with Mr. Geeding nor have I ever been. He for one is one reason McDonald County has such a bad name. If you want to do anything but canoe topless then McDonald County is the place to be as long as he holds that office. Puhlease Mr. Geeding (and I say Mr. lightly) no one fears you and that is half your battle to protect. It is a sad day when you won't even protect our little victims!

Anonymous said...

Just wondering if Steve Geeding is a member of this cult? Why else would he allow accused sex offenders to decide when to turn themselves in?

Anonymous said...

Rev. Lambert also is the "backbone" of a dog breeding business. Take a look at the Grand Valley Kennels website at
http://www.geocities.com/grandvalleykennels/

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, the term 'dog-breeding' is awfully nice. Puppy miller is more accurate. Why don't any of the major news organizations mention this?