Just three days after Judge Greg Stremel issued a gag order in sex cases involving Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church leaders, the Joplin Globe is running a story based on information provided by Robert Evenson, the attorney for Rev. Raymond Lambert, Patricia Lambert, Paul Epling, and Tom Epling. The church leaders are charged with numerous felonies involving ritual sex with children.
The article does not make it clear if the gag order was violated. It does not say when Evenson provided reporter Jeff Lehr with the information, but it was Evenson's side which initially filed the motion asking for the gag order.
Evenson's strategy appears to be to shift the blame to Ethan Epling, the younger brother of Mrs. Lambert and the Eplings, and stepbrother to Lambert:
Robert Evenson said Ethan Epling made statements against the defendants to a McDonald County sheriff's investigator before any of the alleged victims in the case ever came forward with their allegations concerning Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church near Powell.
"There's a story within the story that has not been investigated by the prosecutors or the investigator in this case," Evenson said. "The investigator basically bought what Ethan Epling told him, and then the victims started coming forward."
The Globe account also seems to be bringing into question information provided by McDonald County law enforcement officials:
The attorney for four of the five defendants in a McDonald County sex-abuse case said the prosecutor's office offered more than a week ago not to seek charges against Laura Epling, the wife of one of the deacons charged, if she would agree to testify against the others. She instead was charged on Tuesday.
Earlier in the article, Lehr quotes McDonald County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bagley as saying investigators did not find out about the alleged crime of Laura Epling until last Friday.
They don't make ball gags like they used to. You'd be suprised how technology has creeped in.
ReplyDeleteWhat in the hell does Ethan Epling have to do with this case?? I don't understand, unless that is just one of Bob Evenson's ploys to let these monsters walk free. Who is Ethan Epling? Yes, I've read that he's a younger brother of some of them, but his name hasn't been mentioned at all in this case. It sounds to me like these people are dragging up anyone and everyone they can to bring down, so they can walk free. And for another thing, why would the Lambert's attorney Bob Evenson, share information with a newspaper when there has been a gag order in place? Is that not grounds for disbarment? And also, is Bob representing ALL of the child molestors in this case? How is that possible? Hmm. Someone should check into this "attorney." He sounds like he is nothing but crooked.
ReplyDeletesheesh, it sounds like these people are trying every avenue to keep out of jail....I used to work with Ethan Epling when he was here in Missouri, and believe me, he doesn't want anything to do with these people, their money, or anything else they are trying to accuse him of. Actually, me and my family were quite shocked to hear this branch of the story, the story as told by the Lambert's attorney Bob Evenson....they are just grasping at anything that sounds valid and plainly put, anything that will SAVE THEIR ASSES. I always knew there was something strange about those people, but I had no idea that they were terrible child molesters. I would advise anyone who was a part of their mess to get as far away from them as you can, or else you may find your name in the headlines as well.
ReplyDeleteBob,Bob,Bob, are you stupid? Why would the only guy that had guts enough to leave there want anything to do with these people. Furthermore why would over seventy people leave after he did if there wasn't something bad going on. So that sounds about right for them to blame everything on this guy. Im for one behind this guy, and would like to shake his hand when they put these sick people in jail.
ReplyDeleteYour reaching Bob!!!!
ReplyDeleteIs Bob Evenson that dumb or is he in it for the money?
ReplyDeleteMy vote is dumb AND in it for the money. Also might get a little publicity out of this...some people like the good publicity and some don't care if it's bad. Just as long as they are paid attention to!
ReplyDeleteI've followed this story alot but have been out of town for a couple of weeks, I think there just mad at Ethan for getting his wife and kids off there. I would like to here the storys of everybody else that has left that place, I bet they all match?
ReplyDeleteGo figure.....maybe Ethan Epling has a mind of his own and sense enough and brain enough to stand up for what he knows is right and what is wrong....molesting kids in the name of God or any other reason is WRONG! If Ethan is a big enough man to bring this out in the open I applaud him. Trying to do the right thing when the rest, or even some, of your family appears to be a screw up has to be hard. I think Ethan may be the only one that I have heard mention that actually knows the God I know.
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