The Missouri Attorney General's office filed an entry of appearance indicating it will assist in the prosecution of former McDonald County pastor Raymond Lambert who is charged with the rape of a 10-year-old girl in the summer of 2013.
The pre-trial conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday before Judge John LePage in McDonald County Circuit Court, but that's no guarantee it will take place. Online court records indicate the hearing has been rescheduled nine times.
(Note: The photo of Raymond Lambert was taken during a 2006 hearing)
Lambert, 68, Washburn, was arrested October 12, 2022 by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which conducted the investigation.
It was not the first time Lambert had been arrested in connection with sex crimes involving a child. In 2006, Lambert was alleged to be the ringleader of a sex cult in the church he pastored, the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church. Church membership was approximately 100 and church members lived in what authorities described as a "compound." He and several members of his family, including his wife, Patricia Lambert and sister-in-law Laura Epling were also charged.
A McDonald County grand jury indicted Lambert in February 2008, charging him with four counts of child molestation, three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of child abuse in connection with ritual sex abuse of children.
Janice Durbin, who was McDonald County prosecuting attorney at the time, dismissed charges against Lambert June 10, 2008, again citing reluctance of witnesses.After current McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Maleia Anne Cheney filed the most recent charge against Lambert, she also filed charges against Laura Epling and Patricia Lambert.
McDonald County Circuit Court records do not indicate any current case against Patricia Lambert.
An amended complaint against Epling charged her with statutory sodomy, with the crimes allegedly taking place between 2002 and 2004.
From the probable cause statement:
Raymond Lambert instructed (the victim) to perform oral sex on him to which she complied. According to the victim, Laura Epling was present during the assault and acted in concert with Raymond Lambert by providing instruction and at one point placing her hand on (the victim's) head to assist her in the sexual act.
Judge LePage denied a motion to dismiss the case against Epling November 6. Her pre-trial conference is also scheduled for Wednesday, November 29.
No charges have been filed against Raymond Lambert in connection with the crimes described in Laura Epling's probable cause statement
Grant Valley Independent Baptist Church and the Lambert/Epling Family
The Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church was founded by Patricia Lambert's father, the late Cecil Epling and was featured in a multi-part investigation by National Public Radio in December 2006.
At that time, charges had also been filed in Newton County against another church pastor, George Johnson. Assistant Newton County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Dobbs offered the following comment to NPR:
The NPR report also featured an interview with a family member who was not involved in any alleged criminal activity, who offered insight into the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church's beliefs.
"In April, I learned that my grandfather thought that his daughters needed taking care of spiritually," {the woman}tells NPR. "And so in order to do that, in order to keep his daughters, he had sex with them. He then went on to father a child for most all of his daughters, or his daughter-in-laws [sic]."
At that time, charges had also been filed in Newton County against another church pastor, George Johnson. Assistant Newton County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Dobbs offered the following comment to NPR:
"We have, in McDonald County, Raymond Lambert, who is married to his stepsister," Dobbs says. "We have George Johnston, who is an uncle to Raymond Lambert. It is alleged by some members of that community that the religious leaders may, in fact, be the biological parents of several children who have been born into this group."
"In April, I learned that my grandfather thought that his daughters needed taking care of spiritually," {the woman}tells NPR. "And so in order to do that, in order to keep his daughters, he had sex with them. He then went on to father a child for most all of his daughters, or his daughter-in-laws [sic]."
Her grandfather was the late Cecil Epling, a minister originally from Ohio. According to Burkett, Epling wanted his seven sons and four daughters to become a tight-knit community, so he helped buy them the Missouri farm. When Epling died, his stepson, Raymond Lambert, took over the ministry. George Johnston later joined the family's church.
Family members say Cecil Epling passed his sexual beliefs to both pastors, teaching them that they needed to fulfill the sexual needs of their daughters and selected girls in the church.
"What's inside of them is God, and they think that they have all the power, all that it takes to take care of a woman," {the woman} says.
23 comments:
Why is it always the church leaders? Makes you wonder
Justice delayed is justice denied.
Church leaders and belonging to a church - is all about POWER & CONTROL. Religion is a FRAUD and churches are HOUSES OF SUPERSTITION. I raised my children to be RESPONSIBLE SENSATIVE AND RESPECTFUL human beings - without the BRAINWASHING of religion. There is NO heaven or hell - and not afterlife.
Just plain sick!!! He should have been thrown in prison in general pop. See how he likes that.
What is wrong with McDonald County?
First of all Not all Church Leadership or Churches are Corrupt - It is always interesting that when one Bad Person or even when a Church is Condemned then all Religious Leaders and Churches are Condemned - People are always quick to Condemn - Yet, I am sure that most People do not want to be Judged based on their Relatives or Friends or Associations - - this is a VERY NARROW MINDED PERSON - That would Judge others by Association -
We must remember that Church Members should follow the Word of God - and not just the Person in the Pulpit. Wrong in Wrong - No matter who is Committing a Criminal Act - - This Individual should be held to the Highest Level of the Law and if Found Quilty should face the Wrath of God and our Criminal System...
Mcdonald county is an extremely
red republican stronghold. Beastiality, Sodomy, pedophilia, rape, no problem. Grab'em by the kitty is considered proper etiquette say the devoted minions of the orange fat bastard.
Not sure I would invite 107 to a party. His rambling diatribes and pious righteousness of how we all should conform would have us all running for the exits. I'm sure you're a fine individual 107 but most readership here on the TR are insulted by your insinuation that none of us possess your intellectual insights and knowledge. Again, If I want a diagnosis, I'll get it from a doctor. Don't need your elementary commentary.
Sorry but Christian churches are full of pedos.
@ 6:48 It's not. I'd advise you to do a bit of research in comparing the number of public school employee pedos, to the number of religious affiliated pedos. Not only is the number larger, the per capita is as well.
@ 5:19 Liberalism is a mental disorder, and you are living proof. You were just diagnosed, by a Doctor, no less.
Anonymous - 5:19PM - As for inviting anyone to a Party your total lack of civility and your Bud Light and Ritz Crackers Catering Style is par for your Liberal Attitude of always degrading / insulting others Comments - While Lacking or Providing Any Thoughts or Solutions of your own -
I am sure that your Intellectual Insights and Knowledge - have taken you far in Life - - Do you own a Car, House, have a Job, Etc., - - or do you Live off the State, Federal Government, or Relatives - which is how you have so much time to come up with such Creative Repertoire.
Since we live in a Free Society - all Comments are Welcome - - even if yours will require a diagnose from your Doctor - LOL...
To 906 and 1049, the joy that I feel in my heart is watching maganuts like yourselves completely come apart to childlike thinking and reacting to anything or anyone who theatens your fragile pathetic white conservative world. You both can keep up with your extremist racist views by sticking to Faux news while making sure your guns are loaded and ready to take on the immigrants, lgbtq community,liberals, and school children who you deem expendable and acceptable loses so you and the rest of the rednecks can protect your rapidly eroding position in life.
You're obviously no doctor, more likely just a poser....or soon to be on your way out as the state board of ethics would like to get a peek at your 1049 entry. If that's the most educated response you can make, definitely a poser or so completely inept you shouldn't be seeing people, animals, or anything that requires skill.
It is amazing that when Liberals - cannot respond / debate in a Civil manner they must call everyone Racist, Rednecks, that we all watch Fox News, Carry Guns, Hate Minorities, Etc.,
The interest and fallacy from - Anonymous 5:19PM, 5:51AM, 10:29AM - is their Victim Mentality and Lack of Understanding - which they cannot admit - so they Name Call and Live a Life in a Vacuum between their ears - - never progressing in life or solving their own problems - because the World will not confirm to their twisted views -
I am not a Republican, Don't Own a Gun, Don't watch Fox News, Taught School, and Volunteer with Minorities, have advanced Degrees - I am a Conservative a Democrat - Not Some Woke Leftist Liberal like You - Who is really afraid to Work to Find Solutions - Not just Complain what Others Aren't doing - I am sure your Life's Resume Reads - as much as a Blank Sheet of Paper - Because it is easier to Complain or Find Fault - and Hide in the Shadows of Blogs...
Eat that 906.
Just wondering what you stand for 408. Too ashamed to call yourself conservative but all over criticizing liberal "wokeness".....hmmm. Seems like you're the kind that would prefer to sit out anything that commits you to anything controversial. Just curious, who ran your classes, you or your students?
Anonymous - 6:11PM - If you could Read / Write / Think - I said and I Quote - "I am a Conservative and a Democrat" - Yes, you can be a Democrat and a Conservative - I do not need to follow your Thinking or Lack There Of - I have my Beliefs - and Voted them - You see in a Society we can make change by Voting and I Practice and Live - What I believe.
Do you believe you have to Destroy or Tear Down things to Make Change - - In a Society? That rarely ever works - If you Study History - You might learn something.
Lead by Example, Work Hard, Vote, Volunteer, Stop Being a Victim, Stop Living Off the Government or Your Parents or Relatives - I would also, Become Educated - I find it interesting that a Good Amount of People today that got a $100K Liberal Education or More - Now want the Government to Bail them out - because they cannot afford it - they need others to constantly Bail them out - which becomes a constant way of Life - Stand On Your Own Two Feet -
Again, in our Public School Systems - We have limitations to what we can Teach / Discuss - these Standards / Policies are set at the State and Local Levels of the Communities.
If you prefer to Teach your Children differently than that you can School them at Home or use a Private School - - I would suggest that no matter what Educational Platform you use - you give them you own personal insights into Society / Life / Religion / Etc., -
As I can see by your short diatribe - You were probably a person that did not listen in School because you felt that you know it all - - Yet Life is a Unique Teacher - and you want to Argue to get your Point Across - on any Subject - while Failing to Accomplish anything - Not Helping any Cause, Group, Yourself, Never Moving Forward, and I would bet that your Anger engulfs your entire Life - - because you have never felt accomplished or listened to in Life.
I have no idea what you just wrote 907 but I'm fairly sure its a regurgitation of a previous post of yours. However, I do appreciate your effort and willingness to engage your thoughts and ideas,(albeit,misguided and misinformed) into constructive conversation. It's a pleasure arguing with you!
Accused is the key word
No they are everywhere, the ones that are church related get the most attention.
Weren't these people already ran through the wringer with their kids taken away back in the 2000s? The former charges having to be dismissed because the supposed victims either got caught out in coached-out lies or recanted the pressure they had been taken to. If there are new charges, then they should have known enough to have left the state with their remaining children instead of hanging around for latern harvest by the Missouri Babystealers running a state-sponsored pedophile ring. Jasper County has 500 kids about to age out, Newton and McDonald Counties 350-400, which is why you hear all these advertisements for "Court Appointed Special Advocates" on the TV with the state trying to find some sucker to take in all these stolen messed up kids who aged out as supposed to simply turned loose out in the streets where they will end up in jail all messed up. A kid placed in foster care usually gets sexually abused and the system covers it up, and the results are messed up in the head and unable to produce normal offspring able to become productive citizens.
Simply put, I wouldn't believe anything these corrupt lawyers, judges or pigs have to say, but rather keep a safe distance from the messed-up people they are making.
"NEVER TRUST A PREACHER WITH A BONER!"
Jimmy Swaggert
Jim Bakker
Marvin Gorman
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