Former Kanakuk Kamp director Pete Newman waived his arraignment and pleaded not guilty to sex charges today in Taney County Circuit Court.
Online court records indicate a plea arrangement could possibly be in the works. "Disposition" of the case is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 21. On another section of case.net, it says the case is scheduled for "reappearance" on Jan. 21.
Newman faces numerous felony counts involving sex with underage males.
Details of the allegations against Newman can be found at this link.
78 comments:
Oh, how I hope they reach a plea agreement. With so many boys having come forward with allegations against him, how could Pete possibly prevail at trial? He needs to take responsibility for his actions and thereby spare these young men from having to relive their experiences on the stand.
It is time for this case to get national attention and pressure be put on the judicial system to give him the maximum sentence allowed under the law...once he is convicted or pleads guilty. A light sentence through a plea deal would be a travesty! All high profile advocates for children and champions for justice should be aware of this story. Those such as Bill O'Reilly, Nancy Grace, Oprah Winfrey...would be outraged at the crimes this Pete Newman has committed. He manipulated and duped children, parents, co-workers, friends and family by using his "relationship with God", his charm and personality to garner their trust. Very scary! These children and their parents will have a very difficult time trusting in the future. It is important that he serve time in prison...a very long time. He is a dangerous individual that will repeat this offense if he is allowed to live free in society and anyone that thinks otherwise is very naive and uneducated on the mind of pedophile.
An 80 year sentence pled down to 75 years would be a good plea agreement.
Diamond Gem
He's so cavalier, he thinks he's getting off.
I like the way you think 3:33. My hope is that the proscecuting attornies will stay strong and not give him a plea deal that allows him only to serve 10 or 15 years! If that happens, the Branson community should demand their immediate resignation due to incompetence!
It would not surprise me if he believes he is getting off. When he was molesting these children, he obviously thought he was above the secular law and God's law.
Does anybody know if his wife was there today?
Does anybody close to his family know how he's paying for all this?
Are his IN-LAWS paying for all this? They are understood to be financially able. If they are the source of his funds, how is it that they trust him with their daughter and grandchild?
No, his in-laws are not stupid enough to support him.....although their daughter is.
3:28 you are right.....It's high time.
Tiger Woods must be taking advice from the Kanakuk people about hiding.
to the poster at 3:44 and 3:45:
How dare you hide under the "anonymous" tag and then call Pete's family stupid! You clearly do not know either his family or his in-laws. Few things on these blogs infuriate me more than lame people who say whatever they want and then hide behind the anonymous tag. If you are big enough to make claims about someone, be big enough to put your name by it.
You have absolutely no right to refer to his wife or his in-laws 'stupid.' It's very easy as an outsider to talk about what everyone else should do, when the reality is you have NO IDEA what you would do if you were his wife or relative. I 100% think that Pete should spend the rest of his life in prison, that is what he deserves based on his actions. But I refuse to judge his family, his wife did not do any of these things, nor did she turn her head to allow these things. Her in-laws didn't do them either. You all need to leave family out of it...or be big enough to say your name. Cowards...that what you are, cowards.
The inlaws aren't stupid, however Katie did come to support him today. Don't know what to call that....naive? duped? manipulated? forced? helpless? certainly sad and pathetic.
WOW 4:04!!! High emotions...understandable, as you are either a family member or someone close to the family. I am sure both families...his and his wife's...are devestated by all of this. But, you have to understand the emotions of those who were directly impacted (his victims and their families) by his behavior and even the emotions of those who are following this case. I agree that name calling gets none of us anywhere and calling another indiviual stupid is non-productive...but, the situation caused by Mr. Newman is certain to bring speculation about him, his family and his wife's family. Goes with the territory...deserved or not. It is all speculation..not claims. Your anger should be directed towards the one who is the root of all comments read on this blog... the one being Pete Newman.
is he still out on bail?
when you have a family member you love, and you know they will be spending a VERY long time in prison, you do what you can for them while you can do it. this window of time for Pete and his family is only a few months at best. allow them to get him what help they can, to give them peace that they did all they could before he goes into the system, where there will likely be no serious effort to rehabilitate him.
bailing him out and not addressing the issues would be cavalier and foolish. but bailing him out to help him deal with antisocial behavior and correct it, is best for all concerned.
knowing this family, if there was any chance he was hurting any children, they would take any action necessary, including turning him in, to end it.
@3:38 PM
I think that's what got him in trouble in the first place.
7:36--"Any chance he was hurting children?" Are you kidding? He's a proven master at hiding whatever he wants to hide. He's a sex addict. Do you not know anything about sexual addiction and these type of people? They don't stop when they are in trouble. They don't stop period. Obviously, he was willing to take GREAT RISKS before to get his jollies.....You don't think he's doing that now? WHAT, is someone watching his every move 24/7????? Yeah, right! Who's watching their daughter every second of the day? I hope someone is. It's crazy that he's running lose. HE's a danger. HE's a threat. He's a manipulator and a great actor. He's very convincing. He's good at all that. He had to have been to have duped thousands of people. Do you not think he's still pulling the same tricks? Please. Show some responsibility and don't ASSUME he's being a good little boy now that he's been sent to the principal's office.
Of course his family still loves him. Of course. But the time has come for tough love. Read your Bible. Tough love is in order. Keeping him out on the streets, endangering the public at large, is not helping him. That's helping you. Why not leave him locked up if you think that's what his actions deserve? Leave him there.
His family must be devastated. But for them to enable him further goes against any rational thinking I can imagine. To enable and assist him is hurting all these thousands of people to the core. Think about that.
Hey "Nick." I'd encourage you, if you're really criticizing those with "anonymous" tags, to use a REAL name and an e-mail address, rather than just "Nick", to show how big a man you are. Just a suggestion. ;)
3:52 hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!
Yes, "Nick" (LOL!) Cowardly not to link your name to something real.
7:36, we're praying for you and your family. So sorry you are going through this because of the actions of Pete. How horrible to live this nightmare.
Is there ANYBODY out there who could give us some kind of hope that he is really sorry? Or has expressed some sort of remorse? Or realizes what he's done?
There HAS to be at least one person reading who has been in contact with Pete and could "Anonymously" give us some reassurance that he is sorry.
I really hope that despite the hurt and anger that you all are praying for the many impacted by this... families, Kamp staff, and certainly the young men themselves. Keep lifting this entire mess up to the One that can really deal with hearts and lives.
Pete needs our prayers.
When it's all boiled down, "BEHAVIOR is the truth."
What he did; not what he's saying now.
Randy, or anyone...what is the "disposition" hearing set for January 21st?
Is that the hearing that sets a trial date?
I would think his wife (and to clarify...these are just my thoughts and opinions...I have no direct knowledge, just heresay)is very, very confused by her current situation. This is a man she thought she knew and loved and is the father of her child. Now that she is faced with the truth of who he is, she must decide where to go from here. I know there are many, me included, who find it hard to understand how she is sticking by him....if she truly is sticking by him. But, because he is her husband, father of her child and just a fellow human being...maybe she is choosing not to abandon him immediately...but, will "detangle" herself from him after he goes to prison. The worse case would be if she feels bound by her marriage vows and her christianity...causing her to stick with him as a matter of obligation to her faith and vows. Or if she believes he was such a "powerful voice for God" that "Satan caused his actions as a way to stop his spread of God's word" and believes it wasn't really Pete who committed these heinous acts...but, rather Satan caused him to. Many people before Pete have used God or Satan to explain or excuse their behavior. I hope her family, friends, ministers...all those close to her constantly remind her of his manipulative, charismatic ways...the ways of his nature that allowed him to infiltrate himself into the lives of the victims and their families. I worry and pray for Katie.
To 7:36
Though I do not begin to diminish the power of God...I do not believe pedophilia is "curable." Rehabilitation has rarely, if ever, worked with pedophiles. Do the research.
With that said, I can understand loving your child regardless of their actions. His family can not be chastised for wanting to spend time with him and believe in the possibility of him becoming rehabilitated...no matter how remote that possibility is. I feel for them. But, they will have to support and love him through prison bars.
So sad for everyone.......
Does anyone know what the camp has to say? Have they just washed their hands of this guy, and hoping it'll "go away" with time if they keep quiet about it?
Sound like he was a pretty big deal over there, so I suspect that this will affect them. Anybody close to them know?
Can't they come up with something to try this case in Federal Court...surely with that many cases, the investigators can find a loophle to press for a grand jury indictment. Are there any videotapes? did he communicate on line? did he transport across state lines?
Not much heard from Kanakuk...understandably...as they face the probability of lawsuits due to Pete Newman. Some of the incidents happened on camp property and it seems there were past improprieties (years ago) by Mr. Newman that camp leadership was aware of, reprimanded him for...but, chose to keep him on at Kanakuk.
Understand that the family is hurting, we all are. Understand them being with him through this, but to allow him to continually plead NOT GUILTY just so that they can have a little more time till the inevitable is here is absurd!!!!! Do they not realize the hell they are continuing to put all these families through by making this process drag on and on. Of course they do, but they are just thinking about themselves and Pete. He did this!!!!! He needs to step up to the plate and put an end to this agony for these kids and their families!
Pete's behavior and actions only confirm the fact that he is only sorry he got caught.
8:44, you are right. It's understandable that they love him and really want to have as much time as they can with him before he inevitably goes to prison for the rest of his life.
HOWEVER, dragging this out for THEMSELVES & PETE is disregarding all the victims, their families, Kanakuk, and all the thousands of disillusioned children! They are heaping more salt into open, gaping wounds. THEY ARE. There's no way of denying that. Yes, they want to spend time with him, BUT PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE VICTIMS!!! Are you just as narcissistic as he is? Plus, you're going to go broke, if you haven't already....for NOTHING.
As long as there is a bail set...he will get bailed out by his family. The judge could have had him held without bail but chose not to do so.
Anybody out there want to take a stab at WHY he wasn't held without bail?????
@11:39 - He's out on bail because he's innocent until proven guilty, at least in the court's eyes. Denying bail for a non-capital offense is exceedingly rare, despite what the wannabe lawyers commenting on this site will have you believe. My assumption would be that he's not a high risk for flight, and, despite what you might read in these comments, he's not statistically likely to offend again while out on bail. I think he's as guilty as the day is long and, if so, I hope he spends the rest of his life in jail, but until that is proven in court he enjoys the same rights and protections as any other citizen who has been accused of a crime would.
...and there in lies the problem. Child cruelty, molestation, abuse, etc. SHOULD be a capital offense! It is true that a judge can not make decisions above the law he is charged to uphold. There is a push by many advocates to make this sort of offense a capital offense. All should write their congressman and senators encouraging such.
In this country all are innocent until proven guilty. But, often criminals are held without bail when the crime they have committed is of henious enough nature, or they are a flight risk, or considered a danger to society. Mr. Newman is hopefully under enough scrutiny that he would not offend again at this time...but, his crime was certainly heinous enough to constitute being held without bail.
When is suicide an option? Is he on a suicide watch?
Narcissists love themselves too much to do that.
It would have been better had he never been born.
3:00--What do you mean by "When would suicide become an option?" What are you saying?
If 1st degree Statutory Sodomy to a little child under the age of 12 does not deserve capital punishment, what should?
How much worse could it have been?
@2:33, 5:47: I understand, and on one hand agree with, the desire to see someone who would commit crimes like these put to death. The arguement against it is that once the crime has been committed the criminal has no incentive to allow the victim to live (i.e. - if the rape, sexual assault, etc. is not punishable by death then they are more likely to not kill the victim as a means of eliminating a witness). This has long been a debate in the legal community and both sides have compelling arguments.
I don't think Pete EVER thought any of these boys would be a "witness" or would ever testify against him. Now, there coming out of the woodwork everywhere.
6:11--Since you seem to have an understanding from the legal side of this, I have a question. Pete Newman also committed these same crimes in various other states (at a Father-Son camp in CO, in a camp in AL, in homes in AR, GA, and other states.) SO HOW DO THOSE CASES GET PROSECUTED???
Why is this not a federal case?
And does anyone know if they've ever found any child pornography on his computers, etc.??
PLEASE ENLIGHTEN US ON THESE QUESTIONS!
Thank you very much.
IF I had already confessed in a letter to Joe, IF I was facing possible life in prison, IF I was truly repentant and did not want to cause further harm to those I had violated.I would seriously consider suicide rather than a trial and prison. Just me though.
@6:33: I'm not a lawyer, but I do have an interest in the law, read a lot on the subject is definitely a laymen's opinion. Committing the crimes in various states doesn't make the case federal; it just means there are multiple crimes in multiple jurisdictions. Since it seems the majority occurred in MO, he was exposed in MO; the investigation was done by a MO police force, etc. Missouri has, for lack of a better word, dibs. The other states can prosecute him for crimes in their states after MO gets it’s crack. My guess would be that they will wait and see the outcome of the MO case. If he gets 30 - life in MO I doubt they will bother - what would be the point - if he somehow gets acquitted or a light PB sentence (5-7 years, something like that) I'd think the other jurisdictions would pursue charges and they will charge, indict, try, convict, just like in MO.
For the case to become federal it would have to be shown that he broke some sort of federal statute. This is pure speculation but the most likely crimes he could have committed from a federal perspective are kidnapping (seems unlikely considering so much of the outrage stems from his ability to snow the families of the victims, thereby avoiding kidnapping from a legal perspective) or interstate transport for the purpose of committing the crime (again, likely hard to prove). The feds would be very likely to not get involved if he receives even a moderately harsh sentence in MO. Plus, why would you want him to be prosecuted in federal court? Why take the responsibility for prosecution out of the affected communities? And federal prison is generally a much easier ride than state medium security (where I imagine he'll end up).
Sorry for the long post. Like I said, I'm not an attorney. If an attorney wants to add to or correct anything I've said have at it.
A lot of people are saying that. I'm surprised he hasn't already.
Before all this happened last spring, Pete Newman was pretty much a rockstar. People everywhere knew him. Now, after all this, he is going to be even more known, as the national media is sure to pick on this at some point and his ugly face is going to be plastered all over TVs across...everywhere. So, with that kind of notariety, who would want to go on? He would be known for his sins EVERYwhere. If he manages to get out of this and doesn't go to prison, I would think he would be hunted down. If he goes to prison, the "word" is going to be out before he arrives that here comes a serial pedophile, and we know what happens to those people. So, what does he have to live for?
7:17, that makes sense.
As for crossing state lines, there were MANY MANY children who would fly around everywhere to meet him at camp, or for beach trips, ski trips, "mission" trips, etc. He traveled with some. He met up with some. There are many Kanakuk parents who sent their kids to be with him.
What are medium security state prisons like?
@7:30: I've never been to prison so this is at best 2nd hand knowledge, but Federal prisons have a much higher % of white collar, non-violent criminals, state min security is generally non-violent offenders with sentences less than 2 years (I'm sure this number varies state to state)so they'd rather do their time and get out then fight, rape, etc. State maximum security prisons have so many restrictions in place that the violence is contained, leaving state medium security prisons as the ones where violence, gangs, rapes, etc. are more prevelent - my guess is none of them are as bad as Oz and other movies and shows make them out to be, but going in as a child molester certainly won't do Pete any favors.
For those who, like criminals, insist that someone kill themselves before getting due process of law, here is hoping that this character will choose "suicide by cop" and take some of you fools and vermin with him.
What the comments in this section show simply is a mob 'mentality' in which the accusation is as good as conviction. So here is hoping that this character will take out some of this mob before he dies, hopefully all of you.
Dirty rabble.
He will drag this case out as long as he can. He will stall and pull every trick in the book to prolong his time as a free man. But rest assured everyone, his time is coming and you/we can all lay this down. That could be a year or even longer. But he's not getting out of paying for these crimes.
If he wants to take this to trial, then GOOD, families are lining up to testify against him. He's hoping they would not want to. Maybe they wouldn't WANT to, but they are willing because of how much harm this one "man" has caused. They're getting ready. They'll be ready if that time comes. And if it does, he and his family will ALWAYS REGRET going to court because of what is going to come out. Take that one to the bank!
If his family were counseling him responsibly, they would not allow him to drag these families through this, but apparently they're only thinking of themselves now. They have forgotten the true victims, the CHILDREN!!!!!!!!
9:05, what is "rabble" ??
Ewww, 9:05 loves him some pete(r)
here is what I believe:
Pete Newman is INNOCENT of these charges. This is nothing more than a family wanting to blame someone for the sexual orientation of their son. It is also a case of a family seeing an opportunity to cash in on a chance to get a big paycheck. Others will follow suit, trying to find a way to strike it rich. No different than slipping on a wet floor in the grocery store and 'huring your neck'
Pete will be exhaunerated by a jury of his peers and then you will all feel pretty silly.
I hope the same, but if he confessed to Joe in a letter last summer--- I see no justification for a trial.
To the poster at 3:57pm
You can "believe" all you want that Pete is innocent, but there are dozens of boys that he betrayed and abused. Many of them are ready and willing to testify to the truth...without gaining one penny from the deal. They are standing up and doing the right thing to stop a serial pedophile from hurting another kid. They are risking so much to walk in integrity to protect others. Why don't you keep your fantasies to yourself instead of inflicting more pain on these boys?
3:57
You want to believe in who you thought Pete was, when all along he was snowing you also. He played all of us, but his sins found him out. Don't allow your feelings for him to blind you to the truth.
@5:21 - I agree with you that the letter is pretty damning, and that it definitely looks like Pete is guilty as hell. But this - "I see no justification for a trial" - might be the dumbest thing I've seen yet on the comment section of this blog (and that is saying a lot). You are saying you don't believe in a fair trial - the backbone of the US justice system - because he wrote a letter confessing? Wow. Please don't ever run for office. In fact, please don't ever vote.
3:57, have you not read all these charges and PROBABLE CAUSE statments from investigators? They know how to do their jobs and probable means probable. There are dozens (probably more) of boys telling their parents very similar stories and they are from all over this country and don't personally know one another, so how in the world could all this have been made up?
This guy made a string of phone calls, trying to run interference & "apologizing", in the days leading up to his being found out by camp. Explain that.
Explain his confession letter.
Explain why he didn't come clean with his family over the summer? But now is.
Explain why his family is trying to get him "the help he needs, or the rehabilitation he needs" if he doesn't have a problem.
Explain why he's now whining that some pervert did something to him when he was 12. He never had told that before. Why wait til now, if he's not trying to make an excuse FOR WHAT HE DID?!?!?!
Supposedly he went to some rehab place over the summer. Explain that, if he didn't have a problem.
Explain why almost every PRE-Kanakuk-days-people you talk to say they thought he was either gay, or sissy, or prone to being weird with kids, or somehow sketchy.
If he was so squeaky clean, good-looking, great guy, solid Christian, etc., explain why he never married until almost 29. Girls who got close to him thought he was weird. He wasn't interested in being with girls. His infatuation with boys has been apparent for EVERYONE to see.
If you knew any of these kids, you wouldn't say what you're saying. These kids and their families don't want a thing from camp. These kids have MUCH to lose by opening up about this, but they still are because they want other kids to be protected from him. They now understand his manipulation and how dangerous he is.
Explain why he ONLY has family standing by him right now. NAME ONE FRIEND who believes him and is supporting him. JUST ONE FRIEND! Who? You can't find one, can you?
Explain all this, Einstein!
Explain why other camp-directors for Kanakuk didn't exactly see him like all the campers/families did???
They may never admit it now, but there are at least a handful who weren't fans of his. Explain that.
3:57, you must be on another planet....along with ahem...someone else really close to him.
I know that we are all praying for his family and Katie's family and sincerely hope that good can come from this and that they can come to some sort of peace about going on with their lives after all this is over. Our hearts go out to them. They are the dearest people you'll ever want to know. They are the salt of the earth. Anyone would love to have them for parents/grandparents.
As such, I THINK they are probably counseling him to bring this whole nightmare to a conclusion and go PLEAD GUILTY. They would not counsel him to plead "not guilty" because that would be the same as counseling him to lie. They don't promote sin. They denounce sin. They know this madness must stop and I don't think they would want blood on their own hands. Katie's family either.
Hey 6:44 - I was with you until you mentioned "he wasn't married until almost 29."
That's a pretty incredible accusation you're making there... The inference is that those who don't get married until 29 are likely pedophiles? I got married at 29 because I wanted to be financially stable and didn't find the right lady, not because I wanted to touch boys. The Bible Belt's marriage age in the early 20s seems backwards to me, and partially accounts for the Bible Belt's high divorce rate.
10:35, you are exactly right and I did NOT mean to infer anything like that. Not at all. ONLY speaking of him, and his "seeming" attractiveness to so many girls and his "seeming" eligibility. Always wondered why someone had not "snagged" him up because he "seemed" to have the whole package.
MY APOLOGIES to anyone offended by that. Hey, wait 'til you're 75, if it takes that long to find the RIGHT ONE FOR YOU. Nothing at all wrong with being older when you marry. Nothing at all. Sorry!
6:44 AM - It seems like you must have encountered Pete at some point in your life?
6:44
Unfortunately their are people standing by him other than his family. Steve Shank for one and the Bowman family.
If he were pleading guilty I could understand them helping him through this but to knowingly stand with him in court with victims and their family present, while he selfishly continues this game of "NOT GUILTY" is disgusting!!! By standing with him while he pleads NOT GUILTY is saying they are supporting what he is doing, and with that we have lost all respect!
Which Bowmans?
And the Galloways
Well Mr. Steve Shank and the Bowman family are pretty dang duped as well. Some people just keep coming back for more punishment.
Shanks/Bowmans/Newmans/Galloways:
2+2=4
To the above mentioned families, we are praying for you.
3:57, you obviously know Pete because for sure many of those items you discussed are facts. I know his family and they are great people. He lied to them and instead of manning up and taking what's coming to him, he is causing them tremendous financial and emotional hardship.The things he did and those not even reported yet are just terrible. He is clearly not sorry for anything.Lock him up and throw the key away.
I think people have no idea about what should or should not happen to this man. Those of you for criticizing his family are crazy. Parents stand by their children no matter what., even if the disappointment is beyond monumental. It doesn't mean they are not worried for their grandchildren or even disgusted at the thought of what their own flesh and blood could have done or did do. I think his own past will emerge but it won't change what he did. I think it's difficult to make judgements because very few of the people posting have lived his life or done his deeds. I know this for sure though. The man has stayed in my home and spent many hours and years with my sons..... that being said. Both of my boys are disappointed that someone could use organized relgion as a forum for his sickness, illness or whatever the label. My plight is not GOD it is the forum in which people use to disrupt, what should be pure. There are no mentors religious, sports or otherwise. No person should be held in such high regard as to not be tempted by the world. There are few legends and heros, if any, and the definitions need reworking. The are no mentors in this world only the idea of what each person strives for that is good, day in, day out. And even then all humans will fall short. Heros, mentors etc are not nouns. I am sick about what he did, I am saddended that some version of the law will redefine the words not guilty perhaps. No matter what is said or how it is said, he did what he did. He has to live with it and so does his family for the rest of their lives. He will either be held in captivity until he dies or if he is able to be returned to regular society (which is highly uinlikely in his lifetime)no one will ever trust him, not even he himself. Which in my opinion is like being deceased on the inside. There will be no escape in this world. The attention should be focused on this wife and children for the have many obstacles to overcome to led a normal life without questions. We all must pray for them!!!!!!
"THERE WILL BE NO ESCAPE IN THIS WORLD." Did you hear that, Pete???????????????????????????????????
Own your sin!
1:39 Your statement:
"Both of my boys are disappointed that someone could use organized religion as a forum for his sickness, illness or whatever the label."
to me, almost minimizes what he has done. Not only was it an "organized religion forum" THESE HEINOUS ACTS WERE DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!!!!That is why we are all so greatly disturbed, don't you think?
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