Friday, September 15, 2006

Gag order requested in McDonald County cult case

The attorney for four Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church leaders accused of felony sex crimes involving ritual sex with children filed a motion today in McDonald County Circuit Court asking for a ban on media statements.
Media coverage, especially on KODE, and in the Neosho Daily News and Joplin Globe, has featured many comments from McDonald County officials concerning the case, so Robert Evenson is asking that the talking stop to give his clients a shot at a fair trial.
The preliminary hearing for Rev. Raymond Lambert, his wife Patty, Tom Epling, and Paul Epling is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2, in the courtroom of Judge John LePage.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

If the prosecuting attorney could set a motion to deny this ban, then the media could continue the coverage on this case. The only reason Evenson wants to ban them is because he is afraid that the public will know how terrible these molestors truly are. A fair trial? Nothing was fair that happened to all of the victims in this case. It wasn't fair that they were molested by these people at a very young age. Let's talk about fair. It IS fair that the public know and be aware of the terrible people who are living in their community, and the fact that THEY NEED TO BE PUNISHED FOR WHAT THEY DID, and what they will CONTINUE TO DO if they are not stopped. No doubt about it: THESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEY DO NO WRONG....that everything they've done and are doing to children is right and will only teach those children "how to remain pure." Raymond Lambert believes that every father should have sex with their daughters right as she enters puberty...he has instructed people on the compound to have sexual intercourse with their daughters so "they wouldn't be curious about sex." He's also stated that if the men were not "man enough" to do it, then he would happily oblige. Does that sound FAIR to anyone else? These people will burn in HELL for the way they've damaged little childrens' lives. It is only FAIR that they are locked away for the rest of their lives. So if you want to talk about fair, Bob, then let's talk about letting the public know the TRUTH about the sickening CHILD MOLESTERS that you are representing.

Anonymous said...

AMEN!!

Anonymous said...

What if the stories aren't true? You ask, "why would someone make these horrible things up?" I don't know. There are whys to a lot of things in life. An accusation is just that — it's an alleged wrong.
Still, the witness statements are probably credible and factual,as the court will likely determine.
But with that said, if the accused honestly don't see anything wrong in what they did, why is that any different than the cases of former teachers Debra LaFave and Pam Rogers who had actual sexual intercourse with children but also say they didn't see anything wrong with it at the time? I think they secretly still feel that way (LaFave recently recounted "he wanted it so I gave it to him.") Neither offender will be served with prison time.
Under the law they should be but they're not. Why?
Why can women sexually assualt children and get off of serving time, but these men are already being verbally sent to HELL for something it's not even been proven they've done yet!
If they're indeed guilty,then they SHOULD be sent to prison and for a long time. If it was MY sister they did these things to,they would already be dead (I'm not joking).
But I also don't like double standards.

Anonymous said...

sheeze-anyone who were remotely around these people KNOW that they are guilty, beyond any shadow of any doubt...There are so many witnesses that are willing to come forward in this case, and tell their stories, that these child molesters will stand no chance on the stand. Everything that comes to light is most likely going to be proven the truth. these people affected the lives of former members so much, that most of these former members are willing to set the record straight and put these people away forever. Don't wonder if these people are innocent...they are not. In fact, they enjoy STEALING the innocence from children....THEY ARE FAR FROM INNOCENT. All we can hope and pray for is that our justice system will do it's job (combined with prayer to the REAL GOD from former members) to put these sickening people where they belong forever. THEY ARE GUILTY, and they will tell you that if you walked up to them and asked them this very day. They believe that it is not wrong what they've done, so why should they hide it? These people do not deserve death, they deserve at least 20 years behind bars.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Yes, Yes....these people are guilty...70 some people cannot be wrong when most of them come forward and tell their stories....for whoever wrote the last comment, you are right, these people need to face justice once and for all.

Anonymous said...

I hope when they get convicted (if we can even hope McDonald county prosecutor and the judge over the case will allow that to happen) that they drop their soap so many times their heads spin! Of course they have to be warped so they will probably drop the soap on purpose. And Patty Lambert? She waltzed up to the podium on the newscast like she was really something......wonder how the women in prison would like to see her there?!