Former Kanakuk Kamp director Pete Newman, 33, turned himself in to Taney County authorities today, waived arraignment, and posted $50,000 bond on four felony sex charges involving underage boys. Kanakuk Kamp is a Christian sports camp in Branson.
Online Taney County Circuit Court records indicate Newman is charged with statutory sodomy, two counts of sexual misconduct involving a child under 15, and enticement of a child.
Some of the details of the allegations against Newman can be found at this link.
22 comments:
The public needs to rise up and demand that this PEDOPHILE be locked up for the rest of his days!
These sickos don't get rehabilitated. He's done it for 8 years to numerous boys, right under the nose of so much supervision, so what's to stop him when he gets out of prison????
I'm sorry, but what in the world was his wife doing while he was having little boys jerk him off in their hot tub???? ANd where were all the other Kanakuk staff while Pete was swimming naked in the lake with boys, playing nude basketball and RUNNING NAKED THROUGH KAMP?????????
How did this go on for so long???
PETE NEWMAN IS AND WAS A FRAUD WHO USED THE SWEET NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS TO CARRY OUT HIS SICK, TWISTED, HOMOSEXUAL FANTASIES.
It sickens me...I almost vomitted reading the court document. I just have so many mixed emotios over this. These boys who he molested and sodomized will never be the same. PETE NEWMAN IS A MONSTER, A BLASPHEMOUS MONSTER!
If you live in or around Memphis, Tennessee and have children, WATCH OUT! That's where he now lives...
Am I still living in America where innocent until proven guilty is the law of the land? A coach in my hometown area has just been through 2 horrible years of accusations and trials and was proven INNOCENT of similar charges. I believe Jesus offers love and forgiveness to all and this terrible situation is just a feeding ground for the judgemental.
Pete Newman ADMITTED he did these things. He wrote an 8 page letter of admission and apology to Joe White. There is no question of guilt. I shudder to think of the damage to children he did. My own son has pictures we took of him with Pete... and hand written cards from him. It makes me physically ill. My son is now 16 and we had to sit down and talk through his one Kamp term with Pete Newman as director. It seems safe to say in our case nothing happened. I find it very interesting these allegations show the incidents occurred on dates when Kanakuk was closed. It seems this happened outside of Kanakuk Kamp, and in private homes. Which I also just do not understand, unless families became so infatuated with Pete that they just handed their boys over to him on private time. I still shudder to think what a facade... what a dangerous person with full access to so many. We do know, I suppose, that the nude antics did occur at Kamp... they are not dated though... I really don't see how that could take place during an actual Kamp term with hundreds of people around. I hope Joe White offers further information as to what happened, when, and how. This is devastating. Hind sight is 20/20, but I did have a negative feeling about Pete from the moment I met him. I found it odd he was the loan "single" Kamp director for so long. Most prominent Kamp staffers are married with families. His interest in the boys gave me the creeps. I seem to have some sort of radar for this, but trusted Joe White, the history of Kanakuk which has been STELLAR, and their rigorous background checks and training. I also recently unearthed a youth aid in our church who was secretly telling some of our students that he is gay and asking them to keep it confident, and debating scripture over this with young teens in secret, trying to convince them it was alright, and that God's word is flawed. Years ago he wanted to take my young son out on outings and I just knew. When I approached our staff, I was dismissed and treated as thought my thoughts were absurd. Now it turns out I was correct and this damaging stuff has been going on within our youth group in secret. I am truly feeling disheartened and deeply troubled to now be hearing this information re: Pete Newman. I feel like I've been dodging bullets left and right... I'm sick to death over everything.
Yes, I have to admit it too....I had a weird feeling with Pete. So weird I sent my kid to a different Kanakuk camp this summer, but when I got there...no Pete anymore. The thought crossed my mind that this was the case, but I didn't want to believe anything like that because all of my kids had been at that camp.
Kanakuk camps are still by far one of the best camps out there. I believe that Joe had no idea this was going on. Pete most likely scared the boys into not saying anything to anyone about it.
As far as Pete...he will burn in hell for what he has done..or at least he will have it given to him in prison! He doesn't even belong in society today...that monster!
Let's get some things straight...
1. Pete Newman IS married and has a daughter -- which makes this whole thing that much more tragic.
2. Our prayers need to be for those young men who were vicitimized, Pete's family, and finally Pete himself.
3. The kamp Pete was assistant director and director of was K-Kountry, which is a kamp for children aged 7-11. According to the court documents, the victims were all aged 11-16. So, the victims were apparently kids he met as kampers and with whom he continued a relationship beyond their K-Kountry years outside of official Kanakuk kamp time, or kids who Pete met and counseled with outside of kamp. Remember, Kanakuk is only a summer kamp from June through early August. The alleged incidents took place in early May and early Septmeber -- outside of kamp time.
4. Parents and kids need to learn that there is only One in whom you can place your faith. Humans will ALWAYS let you down. Pete didn't put himself on the pedestal, the kampers and families of kampers did that.
5. Satan will most attack those who are having a siginificant, positive impact on the kingdom of God. I'm not blaming Satan and not Pete, but Satan rules this world, and he attacks those impacting the next world. There is no reason for him to attack non-believers or those many, many "Christians" who, by their living of the world, stand by and tacitly condone the un-Godly direction our country is taking.
6. If Pete's found guilty (which it looks like he will be): Is he a monster? Yes. A pedophile? Yes. Does he deserve to be locked up? Absolutely - forever. Does he deserve forgiveness? Yes - if he's truly repentant. But that doesn't mean he won't suffer the consequences of his choices.
7. Kanakuk isn't "covering up" for Pete. They are not trying to minimize his actions. My guess is Joe White and the rest of the Kanakuk "family" feel more shocked, devastated, betrayed, empty, hollow, and sad than everyone except the victims and their families. In a sense, they, too, are a victim of one man's poor choices.
8. Pete was a rising star at Kanakuk and was the outgoing "face" of the kamp.
9. Kanakuk should not be blamed. It's easy and natural for some to go after the "big, evil corporation" who knowingly turned a blind eye while one of its directors molested the kampers (outside of regular kamp months.) Gimme a break. Was everyone at Enron guilty? Of course not. But the actions of a handful of stragtegic people brought down the whole company. Certainly, there will be fallout from a big picture, Kanakuk standpoint. The thought that Kanakuk is somehow culpable or that it is a conspirator is foolish. Of course, Kanakuk will do whatever they can to distance themselves from Pete and get this nastiness behind them -- who wouldn't. No entity, Christian or not, wants to languish and wallow in the mud longer than necessary when something like this occurs. It doesn't mean they don't care or that are denying what happened. I feel certain they will support and be available to any families affected as long as necessary.
10. To all those condemning Pete and wishing he would burn in hell, etc. Be carful...Judge not, lest you be judged. We all have proclivities or tendencies that pull us to sinful behavior. Acting on it is where the rubber meets the road. Question: What is your secret sin? What sin do you engage in that nobody knows about? We're all broken and we make choices that could negatively affect others. When was the last time you've driven after drinking? Good thing you didn't kill someone by making that poor choice. Again, just look at yourself while you condemn Pete. It's easy to be holier than thou at times like this.
It's TERRIBLE! My heart breaks for those boys and their families! My heart breaks for Katie and their daughter! My heart breaks for Kanakuk! But, also, my heart breaks for Pete!
I worked at Kanakuk Kamps under Pete. Believe me this is a complete shock to ALL staff who worked with and under him. Believe me this is NOT what Kanakuk Kamps stands for and is not acceptable. They extensive background screenings and policies are EXPLICITLY used to PROTECT children.
I honestly believe knowing Joe and Pete's wife they had NO idea this was going on.
Please keep in mind what was said above. I also worked under Pete and am not quite sure what to think of all this at the moment. It was Pete who trained us, and warned us that we were to be above reproach, so that something like this wouldn't happen. I consider him a friend. I consider his wife a friend. I hurt for all of them.
For those of you who worked with him and trained under him, OPEN YOUR EYES. Pete didn't work at Kanakuk to glorify the Lord. It was his hunting ground, and a fertile one at that. He is a PREDATOR. Rest assured there will be more victims before it's over.
The fruits of the spirit demand that you USE DISCERNMENT. WISDOM. Don't weep for this man. Pray for his victims.
Deception is a very dark thing. People don't usually announce it when they do it. Of course Pete would present himself as someone clean cut in these regards. Child predators do whatever it takes to keep their contact in the world of children. He needed the position in order to carry out his inner desires. He's not going to risk the perfect set up by looking or coming across as anything less than stellar. That's the facade, that's what deception actually IS. Pete did whatever it took to live the double life. He had to be the perfect candidate in order to keep his position. He had to have the position in order to prey on children, his addiction. Such a mind as that, is a very scarey thing. There's degrees of darkness, even though the cost of all sins is the same. Pete lived in utter darkness. It's exposed to light now. The priority of my concern is with the boys he abused... this will be a life long battle for them. I know. I was sexually abused when I was 7 through 8. It will take a life time with God to heal from the damage inflicted. I pray for each one, and the number is sounding to be at least 16 thus far. Unfathomably tragic. I feel for the victims and their parents first and foremost... for Kanakuk and his wife/family next.
You have to wonder what these kids were thinking. Perhaps it was "big stuff" to have what they thought was an evening with this yoyo. I can't imagine why no one said anything to their parents, friends, etc. and it went undetected until this guy spilled his guts. If he hadn't it probably would still be going on.
Not everyone in this area has the huge amount of respect for the organization that some here would lead you to believe.
Kinda sounds like Ole Michael Jackson doesn't it. Look how many idiots, I mean people, mourned over his death.
My bet is this guy will do away with himself before this case every comes to trial.
You guys need to know that him "spilling his guts" came long after camp called him on the carpet after reports from victims/parents started coming in....AFTER HE WAS ALREADY TOAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous said: You guys need to know that him "spilling his guts" came long after camp called him on the carpet after reports from victims/parents started coming in....AFTER HE WAS ALREADY TOAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The "Kristian Kamp" sure did a good job of keeping this out of the news as long as they could! Keep them cards and letters coming, but be sure you put money in them for the Krisian Kamp.
A tragic event such as this deserves facts not rampant rumors and speculation. If one is interested in facts, then you need to know that:
-- Kanakuk was asked by law enforcement to not make any comments about the firing or the case while it was under investigation. They handled it the right way.
-- The fact is that Newman hasn't been with Kanakuk since March, 2009 as soon as this developed. Kanakuk took action immediately to remove Newman from Kamp. An email went out to Kanakuk families in March, 2009 that he was no longer with Kamp.... Read More
-- Kanakuk isn't "covering up" for Newman. They are not trying to minimize his actions. Joe White and the rest of the staff of Kanakuk likely feel more shocked, devastated, betrayed, empty, hollow, and sad than everyone except the victims and their families. To a much less extent but in a very real way, Kamp and the outstanding people associated with it are also victims of one man's evil choices.
This is NOT what Kanakuk Kamps stands for and this behavior is not accepted or condoned by Joe and Debbie Jo White and staff. They have extensive background screenings, policies and training which are EXPLICITLY used to PROTECT children. However, even doing background checks doesn... Read More’t catch someone who is interested in kids who hasn’t been caught because they don’t have a record.. There are many safeguards in place at Kamp that have been in place for years. However, there is no camp, church, day care center, school etc. that can ever be 100% safe.
– This is a tragedy with so many lives injured. Playing a blame game only makes it worse. The blame is with Newman not with the Kamp. In a criminal case like this, Joe White and Kanakuk did exactly what they should have done and were advised to do. No one from Kanakuk covered up anything. Please do your homework on the legal and factual matters before you speculate and point fingers at anyone other than Newman.
My daughter attended k- kountry and the very first time i met this man, he gave me the creeps. I'm not saying I knew he was a pedophile but it was pretty obvious to me that he was either gay or bi-sexual. Personally i don't understand how so many people were duped for so long. Something was amiss and if I (and apparently a few others on here) could tell something was up, than someone should have noticed the red flags. I feel sorry for the victims and Joe White for the way his life's work was torn apart by one evil man.
It's hard not to judge, and judge angrily and viciously. But Jesus reached out to the prostitute right before she was to be stoned. Judging someone in your mind is dangerous business, and it certainly isn't taught by Christ - thanks be to Him, or we'd all be in trouble.
Pediphilia is usually cyclical, so it wouldn't be a far guess that Pete was abused by some other "monster" (that probably wasn't arrested - most aren't) when he was once innocent.
If one of Pete's victims goes on and commits the same act later in life, will you blame Pete, or hold one of these boys (that are now men) solely responsible? Or would you show compassion because of what Pete did did to him years' past?
It seems no one can win in this situation, but somehow, someway, God usually finds a way to make good, even in the most horrifying situations.
If you only sit back and judge, aren't your fists just clenching the stones in your hands - or have you already thrown them?
This really puts love to the test.
I have been associated w/ Kanakuk for many years. The evil that Pete did does not reflect all the love, concern, and caring that Kanakuk has offered many children through out the years.
The staff and management at Kanakuk did exactly what law enforcement asked them to do. They kept the fact that Pete was being investigated quiet so that the investigation could move forward unhindered.
My heart is torn w/ sadness for all the evil that Pete has created in the world. But, make no mistake, this evil has existed for years. Pete was most likely a victim of similar abuse. Does that give him an excuse for his actions. Absolutely not. He is a sexual predator. He will always be a threat to our youth. Keep him far, far away from society. But, pray for him, pray for the children he abused, pray for his wife, pray for his daughter, pray for Kanakuk, Just simply pray. The Bible tells us that when we do not know what to pray the Holy Spirit will intercede for us. This is one of those times, the Holy Spirit will need to help me out...........
The post, just two up, at 2:24 leaves me disturbed on a few levels. First, I have to ask, who here is judging Pete? Who have you seen judging him? People don't have to judge Pete... his crimes and assaults upon the boys judge himself. People are expressing their sadness, their anger, their frustration. I don't see more than that. You raise Jesus and the woman caught in adultery... I'm not sure why when there is so much more regarding the specifically the treatment of children in scripture that is more applicable. Granted, "children" could mean literally children, or those who are new to their walk with God, *spiritual children*... but these boys, in fact, were both. The woman caught in adultery is mostly about the attempt to trap Jesus, knowing he would have grace for the woman, yet living under the law, which at that time stated adultery was punishable by death. Stone throwing, is the expressed desire to have the woman put to death. Who here is saying that regarding Pete? Who has? I think it better to examine, instead of the woman caught in a CONSENSUAL act of adultery, the words of Jesus directed toward those who would cause a child harm, or to stumble. Jesus didn't say, in that case, "go and sin no more". He explained it would be better for such a person who would do such a thing to have a millstone (check out the size of a millstone if you do not know) tied to their neck, and they be thrown into the depths of the sea. Jesus was no longer dealing with a woman caught in a consensual act which was considered a crime... Jesus was talking about what it would be like for the one who has the inner wickedness to try and ruin the good potential of a child. He was speaking about those who would assault the young in age... and in spiritual growth, such as these boys Pete attacked.
I'm also disturbed by the typical generalities about cyclical sex crimes of those abused as children and the question, which seems arrogant, about who would we blame?? First of all, I can assure you, I was sexually abused by a predator as a child. My abuser had NO history of having ever been abused in their childhood. Instead they had an addiction to deviant sex, and it was not brought on by prior abuse. Add to that, as an adult who has made it down this path with God having been abused, I can also assure you I've never had any desire to go onward to abuse children. I have worked in children's ministry many years, and have children of my own. The thought to sexually assault a child has never crossed my mind, and stories of such are simply painfully sickening. Be careful with such easily tossed about generalities. By the way, how is it that we KNOW with certainty that "most" sexual predators were abused?? Do we just take their word for it?!? That is a handy little *factoid* I think, and could possibly have become a handy little *excuse* for the ranks of predators to tell us. (considering their honesty level in life.... Umm... just saying, why are we always so quick to believe this *factoid* and to toss it out there so handily?) God tells us it is the one who sins who is guilty. The one who sins. So, to humor you by answering your rather sad question about who would we blame? If one (or all) of these boys lived on to become predators like Pete? I can clearly tell you I would blame the one who sins. There IS no excuse. God and all help is available to people who were once abused. In my life I've known many who were... (another fact you might consider is 3 in 4 people have been sexual molested as children)... so are you believing 3 in 4 adults is now a *cyclical* child molester??? REally?? I'm sorry, your post left me disturbed. I truly hate it when I sense the possibility that some Christians take a situation like this and use it to become all preachy and elevate *their more holier outlook and ways* above people who are simply expressing their sadness and anger (without sinning). There are always those who pull the "preach" card and go grandstand with *lofty* ideas.
To the poster above (12:05 pm):
RIGHT ON! AMEN! WELL SAID! Glad to finally hear someone with a balanced, intelligent response to what you were referring to.
PETE: I hope you are reading. I hope it's starting to sink in the harm you've done. You, if you want to have an iota of respect left, should stand in that court, tell the whole truth, apologize to the victims, parents, camp, your own wife and daughter, to your families, and to all the little broken-hearted children who have loved you so much. You should own it all. I SAID OWN IT ALL. THEN, when you do your in-prison-repenting to God, it'll be sincere. But, if you aren't willing to admit your sins publicly, then what good is a "secret" repentance??????
I have known Pete for 6 years. I suspected nothing. Nothing raised a red flag. Oh, how I wish he had dealt with his sinful thoughts when that was all they were. It makes me pray that I will deal with any sinful thought immediately before it grows into an action.
The pain this man has caused our family is staggering. I do not want to hate, but I know what waits for him in jail and all I can say is,"Good luck with that."
This is all ridiculous. People that are going aganist him OPEN YOUR EYES. Dont judge someone if you truly dont know him, know kamp and so on. I had the blessing of working under pete for 4 years and was a kamper for 6. THis place changed my life. God used Kanakuk to change lives and bring glory to his name. i am sadden however people quite talking and let god take control. He knew well before time that this would occur. IN the bible it says all things will work for the good. Yes that means GOOD. Trust in that. God knows whats up. He has pete in his loving gracious and compassion arms. Believe in that. Pete might not of done all or might of done it all. Let the courts take control. He was an amazing man andd i know that sin and temptation got in the way.. so LET GO AND LET GOD
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