Thursday, January 21, 2010

KTTS: Pete Newman accused of "befriending" children

Whoever wrote the Pete Newman update for KTTS Radio in Springfield seems to be squeamish about certain parts of the case against the former Kanakuk Kamp director who is charged with numerous sex crimes involving underage boys.

The story mentions his Colorado arrest today on sex charges, but concludes by noting "Newman is accused of befriending camp boys in Branson over the 10 years he worked at Kamp Kanakuk as a director."

Sorry, KTTS, there is nothing wrong with befriending camp boys; there is definitely something wrong with molesting them, which is the allegation in these cases.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

In 2001, as a staff member at K-Kountry, I remember a male staff meeting in May during staff training week when Pete and Will (who was the director then) mentioned that we always needed to be careful that we don't do anything that even appears bad. They then mentioned that a parent had brought an allegation against Pete to the effect that Pete had abused their son. I remember Pete talking about how the "ridiculous" allegations were the "worst thing that had ever happened" to him.

I can't believe I didn't ask more about that incident. I worked for this guy...he personally hired me...I received counsel from this guy...I looked up to him. Hearing in 2001 that he had been accused of stuff made me raise my eyebrows and wonder why he would even put himself in a position to be accused, but I foolishly overlooked it.

I'm so concerned about some of my kampers who were close to Pete because they lived in Branson and I remember they had regular contact with him.

I just found out about this last night and have wanted to throw up all day.

Does anyone know anything more about the allegations before 2001? I really wished I had asked more about it then. And I agree with the mom who said she sensed something kinda weird and slightly effeminate in Pete...I did too. While I was always in awe of Pete, I was also always distanced from him...like it was impossible to really connect with him like it was possible to connect with Will. Pete almost seemed too placed on a pedastool and I think he wanted it like that. Was he abused as a kid or something (not that I think that excuses his behavior in the least!).

Finally, why aren't these comments dated (there's only a time of day, not a date)

Anonymous said...

I'd hate to see what the editor of that column's "friendships" look like...geez.

Anonymous said...

I think Pete Newman and Brian Rash shoudl share a cell with a man named "Bubba"

Anonymous said...

Does this:
http://bransonmissouri.missourinetizen.com/2010/01/pete-newman-former-kanakuk-counslor.html

mean he's out on bail AGAIN?!

Anonymous said...

NOOOOOOO!!!!! That article was speaking of one of his hearings back in the fall.

For now, he's exactly where he should have been all along.

Thank you, Lord, that our communities are a little bit safer now that he's not out and about, hunting for new prey.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if Attorney Tom Carver is licensed to practice in Colorado? This is really going to cause Pete's legal fees to sky-rocket with Mr. Carver (assuming he's licensed in CO and agrees to do this traveling back and forth to take on defending these new charges). Where is the money coming from?! Then, when all these other states who are waiting with guns loaded, files all their charges, who is going to represent him then? Or pay for it? How can he continue to afford this, especially when he knows he did all these heinous crimes and he's never going to win? At what point do his advisors (attorney, friends, wife, family) look at him and say, "YOU have done this. YOU have brought untold pain to literally thousands of people. This is no longer about you; but about healing the broken-hearted. You must stop worrying about yourSELF, and start manning up. No more lies. Only truth. Consequences are biblical. It's time for you to receive those, repent, get straight with God and all of His little children that you've destroyed."

WHEN? WHEN? WHEN? WHEN? WHEN? are the people who love him going to stop his nonsense and give him the biblically-responsible advise he should have been given from the beginning?????

This is really starting to make those close to him look horrible, when they actually are good people who maybe just can't see the forrest for the trees.

Anonymous said...

To people out there who knew Pete:
Do you think that he ever really knew the Lord? It's hard to believe how someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit can continue in this deep, dark, calculated, evil, intentional, perverted sin. I mean we all sin. But we don't intend to. We mess up...even a lot. But, CALCULATED EVIL that goes on and on and on, and DEVASTATES so many innocent children is just entirely a different category of sin. I know there will be people who'll say that God sees all sin the same. Well, that's simply not true. Look at what scripture says about the "millstone." Look at what scripture says about homosexuality and those types of perversion.

I also think that because he was raised by such godly parents, was exposed to ministry his whole life, knew the "talk", etc....that perhaps he INTELLECTUALLY knew scripture, but had never internalized the belief of it in his HEART. You know? I am thinking that he just learned how to talk the talk, but was dark and empty on the inside all along, but b/c he was so charasmatic and charming and funny AND b/c he was connected to people like Joe White, that everybody just assumed he was what he pretended to be.

If he doesn't know Jesus truly and personally, then he's going to have the rest of his life (probably behind bars til he dies) to get straight with the Lord.

People keep asking why he doesn't do the right thing and just confess.....well, he probably doesn't feel compelled to do the right thing because he never really knew the Lord and the Holy Spirit doesn't reside in his heart. It's not our place to judge, but this is the only explanation that would explain his heinous crimes against children and then the way he's lying about it now.

Friends (those of us who "knew" him): We were friends with the devil incarnate and it makes my skin crawl. When you look into his eyes in those 4 mugshots, you can see the dark evil so clearly now.

If you have photos of him, notes from him to your kids, or anything connected to him, you should get it out of your house b/c I truly believe that there is satanic oppression in anything pete-related.

Anonymous said...

6:52 - I am in complete agreement of many of your statements. When my husband and I sought counsel on this in the fall - sharing the story of Pete with 2 trusted individuals, (one of whom is a PHD in psychology and has over 30 years of Christian Counseling experience, and the other with an MDiv and Phd from 2 very reputable seminaries), both concluded, right after we described Pete and his actions, that they were doubtful of Pete's salvation - knowing that if you are truly living a repentant regenerated life that you would not be bound to such a heinous sinful lifestyle in the name of Jesus Christ.

That has been the most difficult part of all of this for our 15 year old son - that Pete dared to do these awful things over and over in the name of our Lord and Savior.

We, too, have gotten rid of "all things Pete"....including pictures of him in our home on a visit...ugh.

Thanks for your thoughtful post.

Anonymous said...

Can anybody tell us what's next in this pathetic case?

Anonymous said...

You asked what's next?

Pete is in the Taney County jail, awaiting extradiction to Colorado to face at least one charge there.

He has a hearing in Taney County in March.

Anonymous said...

Such a sad and sinful world that we live in. I too wondered if this man could have been saved. May he NOW be turned from darkness to light and from satan to GOD. I too pulled the picture of P with my son out of the photo book and put it in the garbage. I hope and pray that Kanakuk will do a MAJOR prayer walk all over that camp site.