Former Kanakuk Kamp director Pete Newman, who is free on $50,000 bond after waiving his arraignment and pleading not guilty to four felony counts involving sex with underage boys, admitted the crime in a letter to his former boss, according to documents on file in Taney County Circuit Court:
"On 6-8-09, Joe White (Kanakuk Kamp owner) received a signed eight-page letter from Pete Newman confessing to his actions and supplying an apology. Kanakuk Administration, (owner and directors) fill out voluntary written statements after interviewing/terminating Pete Newman. The written statements provided that Pete Newman admits to being naked with the victims and masturbating in their presence and engaging in mutual masturbation with the victims."
Armed with the letter admitting he had committed sex crimes against underage boys, the Taney County Sheriff's Department arrested Newman...14 weeks later.
15 comments:
Would an attorney correct me if I'm wrong? But what I would think is that the DA's office isn't going to want to charge him until they have all the information they can get on him - the court records show investigations taking place in July - and witnesses might clam up if the charges are brought prior to some kind of investigation. Also, it might give the perp a better chance to talk the victims into staying silent. One might also wonder if one victim talked and mentioned the names of other possible victims that they might have seen with the same type of relationship, etc. Also, is a grand jury used in a case like this?
14 weeks, thats three momths plus.
Doesn't surprise me.
It proves my old theory though, beware of youth camps that pretend to be religious. Don't send your kids to a church run daycare either.
You are right (and I am an attorney). The confession letter also doesn't necessarily provide the elements of each crime he's charged with, and so they need to conduct the investigation such that they can prove to beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crimes.
His letter in June confesses to SOMETHING, not necessarily the elements of the crimes in the Missouri code - I credit Taney County for doing the investigation and making sure they have the goods to really nail him.
I am a Kanakuk Kamper and Kanakuk changes lives do not doubt that please youth kamps help lids especially Christian ones!!!
kanakuk doesnt pretend to be religious. It is genuine! I am a parent of kanakuk kids who have attended there for over 10 years. I know second generation kids who go there. It is an awesome kamp. This is an atrocity and an outrage. It has broken the hearts of all related to the kamps. Everything is done there to prevent any possible questionable wrong. They are heartsick about this. I also know Pete as a kamp director. My kids went there to the younger kamp. Pete would be the last person you could imagine doing this. I see why the kamp wouldn't have a clue that he could do this.He , however,should be held accountable and punished for the criminal actions as well as the betrayal of trust and position. It does not show Christian camps as bad. The dates were not during kamp, but i'm sure were an extention of his connections.What it does show is all aspects of our society can be infiltrated by evil..
kanakuk doesnt pretend to be religious. It is genuine! I am a parent of kanakuk kids who have attended there for over 10 years. I know second generation kids who go there. It is an awesome kamp. This is an atrocity and an outrage. It has broken the hearts of all related to the kamps. Everything is done there to prevent any possible questionable wrong. They are heartsick about this. I also know Pete as a kamp director. My kids went there to the younger kamp. Pete would be the last person you could imagine doing this. I see why the kamp wouldn't have a clue that he could do this.He , however,should be held accountable and punished for the criminal actions as well as the betrayal of trust and position. It does not show Christian camps as bad. The dates were not during kamp, but i'm sure were an extention of his connections.What it does show is all aspects of our society can be infiltrated by evil..
Satan's attacks are only on those who are changing lives. It's a sad reality of life that in the most focused efforts to honor our Lord will be delivered by the enemy the greatest efforts at destruction. There'd be no advantage in attacking a camp that wasn't honoring God with their goals and values. With this adversity will come growth and strength despite the broken hearts of those on staff and the families impacted by a sick and deceived individual that allowed himself to be used for evil.
Amen to that...darkness hates the light, and Satan does not waste his time attacking those who are not posing any threat to him.
Pete Newman may be a sick pervert, but Kanakuk is one of the best places in the whole enitre world...just cause Pete Newman is a nasty sexfender, doesn't mean Kanakuk Kamps is a bad place. I go to Kanakuk and I will keep going to Kankuk as long as I can.
Jack and Ann E.
Romans 3:3-4 says..."What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge."
I knew Pete...was at a camp with him the past February...this breaks my heart. But when you have no accountablility, as was the case with Pete, this things happen. My prayer is that the kids whose lives Peter changed spiritually have grown enough in the their faith to weather this...
My only question is why these kids waited so long...
maybe all u kanakuk lovers should look into it a little more. Kanakuk also quarantined over 60 campers, this summer of 2009, with smine flu and held them there till there camp duration was up and they chose not to notify the parents. Lastly, Kanakuk is a place where religious zealots can parade around and think they are better than everyone else. It is an understood fact that people who have attended religous camps are more judgemental than those who have not. Now correct me if im wrong but wouldn't god want a person to be kind and accepting to everyone and that everyone is his child. Now, why would soneone be judged for that. Because zealots such and kanacult teach kids right from wrong when in reality they are teaching them their opinions of people instead of letting the children develop their own perspective.
Have you ever even been to camp at Kanakuk or had children attend? You can't judge a whole camp that has done so many wonderful things for so many children over the years on the actions of one man. He is obviously a very sick and troubled man that I hope will be punished for what he has done. I don't know where you are getting your distorted view of what Kanakuk teaches, but you couldn't be more wrong. All 3 of my kids attended and all 3 loved every minute of it. And I would be willing to bet that is how most kids that went to kamp there feel about it. So how about YOU get your facts straight and not JUDGE a place because of one idiot.
my child has gone to Kanukuk and I agree it is a good camp... they are sincere... I know they would never want something like this to happen, but it did happen... and it happened over and over again for many years... so I don't really trust them anymore.... how could they be so unconscious as to allow this? why do they not have more checks? it is very scary... and so sad... I have a young son who wants to go now and I won't allow it... even though it is a tradition in our family and he doesn't understand why he can't go there as his cousins and sister have gone for years... I am sending him to a camp that has 3 councilors in a cabin.... my thought is that surely there can't be 3 adult perverts together exploiting young children in a camp environment?? it is an even bigger tragedy as it happened in a spiritual environment... it is very confusing for children to suffer in a place that is supposedly so "safe"... I am sad... and what is wrong with Pete Newman? how people can do such horrible things to a child, especially when they are teaching them about Christ, is just beyond my ability to imagine...
So I am on the outside...never went to it, never sent my kids. One ?: Do you people honestly believe that this abuse happened without any "indicators"? No persons saw or suspected any misconduct? Not his co-workers? His family? Camp administrators? All boys kept this from their parents for 10 years? Something is not adding up. Someone knows a lot more than we are being led to believe. What are the facts here? So sad.
i went to kanakuk when i was younger due to my highly religious aunts recommendation and my mom agreeing with her(her mistake) the camp attempts to brainwash kids and only teaches them their biased opinions and religious bs on life. i would never go back nor send my kids..
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